Merilyn Fowler (née Earle) - test cricket wins by a country mile

Hawkesbury Cricket Club | December 13, 2024

Merilyn Fowler (née Earle) is considered cricket royalty at Hawkesbury Cricket Club.

For over 25 years, Merilyn served as a scorer for the club, and her dedication was recognized with Life Membership in 2000.

In 2018, the NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (NSWCUSA) acknowledged Merilyn’s outstanding contributions by awarding her Life Membership—the first scorer ever to receive this honor. This recognition was well-deserved, as Merilyn was a driving force behind the inclusion of scorers in the NSWCUSA and has been instrumental in pioneering scorer development and training throughout her remarkable career.

Hawkesbury Cricket Club’s first-grade home ground was originally known as Benson’s Lane No. 1. However, in 1992, the ground was renamed Owen Earle Oval to honor Merilyn’s father, Owen Earle, a hardworking and humble servant of the club.

Merilyn was not only scored for Hawkesbury Cricket Club, but she also scored many first class games as well as 10 test matches. Nine test matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground and an Ashes test at the home of cricket, Lords in 2009.

Let’s find out more about Merilyn’s journey in the game.

Merilyn receives her NSWCUSA Life membership from former international umpire Dick french

What year were you born?

1971

What state do you live in?

NSW

When did you first start developing a love for cricket?

Age 13, I hated it before then!

Tell us briefly about your journey in the game

I started scoring for Hawkesbury Cricket Club in Sydney Grade Cricket at 15 years old. I progressed to scoring minor representative games at 16, then went on to scoring First Class Cricket when I was 25, and International level shortly after. I retired from scoring after 23 years having scored lots of games at all levels including 10 Test Matches, the last of which was an Ashes Test at Lords in 2009.

How did you become involved with Hawkesbury Cricket Club?

My brother, Bruce, played for the club, my dad scored, and my Mum did the canteen, what hope did I have?

What do you like most about the club?

The fact it's a “country" based, family friendly club, lots of opportunity for players, in my home district and lots of good people in the club.

What club and or competition do you support?

Hawkesbury through and through!

When and how did you develop a love of scoring?

When I was 13 my older brother was playing NSW Junior Union cricket and I became friends with the 19 year old female scorer. I travelled to Melbourne with the team to keep her company and ultimately fell in love with the game, and that hasn't changed for 40 years.

I toyed with the idea of playing or umpiring, however this was at a time when female involvement was rare and when I started scoring, I was only one of four females scoring in 1st grade.

My Dad taught me to score properly in a 3rd Grade game (after scoring backyard cricket for my brother and his best mate as a kid so they didn't have to stop playing!) and I started scoring 1st Grade in the last game of our first season in the Sydney competition in 1985/86.

Funnily, we sat in the machinery shed with a wooden board balanced on a couple of drums as our table that was taken away from us at afternoon tea time! Interestingly, the match was a tie and I was hooked! Fast forward a few years and I became involved with the NSWCUA (now the NSWCUSA) and sat on the Scorers Committee for many years, became a scorer mentor and rep scorer selector.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket so far?

So many to choose from but it's hard to go past standing for the National Anthem at my very first Test Match at the SCG (a few tears shed!).

Who’s your favourite all-time cricketer?

Simon O’Donnell

Who was your favourite captain?

Tough question! I've chosen Steve Waugh who has an incredible cricket brain and always showed amazing grit and determination, never gave up and always played tough but fair.

Steve Waugh

Who’s been the batter you’ve enjoyed watching the most?

So, so many but I'll go with Mike Hussey.

Who in your opinion has been the best fast bowler?

Glenn McGrath

Who in your opinion has been the best spinner?

Shane Warne

Who in your opinion has been the best wicket keeper?

Adam Gilchrist

Who in your opinion has been the best umpire?

My husband, Nick Fowler, of course! We met at cricket, and he was also a state level umpire.

Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand as a scorer?

Again, there have been so many as I have a particular appreciation for the art of batting. I've chosen a majestic innings by Simon Katich who hit 306 off 351 balls playing for NSW vs Qld in a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG in October 2007. It was an absolute pleasure to watch, technically correct and powerful.

Who are the 2 players you most admire in the competitions you score in terms of skills and competitive spirit?

Mike Hussey and Steve Waugh

What’s the most picturesque ground you’ve had the good fortune to watch cricket?

I could go with Lords, Bradman Oval at Bowral or the SCG but my heart goes to Hawkesbury's 1st Grade ground, Owen Earle Oval, which is named after my dad. You have to appreciate the rural outlook and peaceful environment.

If there was one match up in the history of world cricket, a bowler and batsman going head-to-head at their peak, who would you choose?

Viv Richards vs DK Lillee

What’s your preferred format of the game, Test Cricket, One day games, T20?

Test cricket wins by a country mile!

What do Cricket Officials need to do over the next 10 or so years to ensure people get to enjoy the game as much as you do?

My Dad used to say, "do any of these changes make the game better?" and the answer is generally "no". The game is already great, don't over-complicate it!

Who are the 3 cricketers from any era you’d like to invite to a BBQ?

Simon O'Donnell, Pat Cummins and my Pa, Snowy Smith, who at one stage had a batting average of 330 and hit a 6 from the middle of Richmond Oval onto the train tracks of Richmond train station on the full which is a pretty huge hit!

What would be your ultimate experience as a cricket fan?

Even though Lords is now a surreal experience, I'd still say I'd choose a corporate box on Day 1 of every Test Match in Australia for a season.