Mark Danckert - the curator

Kincumber Avoca Cricket Club | May 18, 2023

Mark Danckert has made an invaluable contribution to the Kincumber Avoca Cricket Club.

After arriving from the big smoke of Sydney in 1991 Mark has been a player, administrator, coach, umpire and curator and has done an enormous amount for cricket on the Central Coast.

He played Grade Cricket in Sydney for Randwick (Randwick Petersham), Waverley (Eastern Suburbs – First Grade Player Number 503) and Gordon Cricket Club

Mark is a Life Member of Kincumber Avoca Cricket Club so let’s find out more about Mark’s journey in the game

What year you were born?

1963 in Surry Hills, Sydney.

Can you remember you first game of cricket?

I started playing at the age of 10 in year 5 at Bondi Public School. At the same time I started attending Saturday morning coaching sessions on the outfield at Waverley Oval, a short walk up the hill from where I grew up. The Late Phil O’Sullivan was always at the ground coaching and encouraging the kids. He had to, cricket had a lot of competition for summer participants in Bondi.

The first ‘real’ game I can remember playing was in the 13As at Sydney High v Kings. I remember the drive out to Parramatta took ages for a 3 hour game starting at 9am. I think I accumulated a very patient 15 or 20.

Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?

I played for my high school from the age of 12. We played two games a week at school – Wednesdays in the local CHS comp and Saturdays in the GPS comp. In 1978 I was first picked in the school 1st XI and Graeme Errington, who taught me at school, encouraged a few of us to trial for the Randwick Green Shield side, which I did and was selected. That started my association with Randwick which lasted until the 1983/84 season after which I moved to Waverley, which is where I was selected to play 1st grade in 1984/85. I moved to the north side of Sydney and so began playing with Gordon in 1986/87.

We moved to the Central Coast in 1991 where I now reside at Terrigal and I played for Kincumber Avoca until I finished playing in 2007 and coaching in 2015.

My last season was in the local 3rd grade competition alongside a bunch of kids I’d coached from the age of 10. I’m a level 2 coach and have coached juniors and seniors, voluntarily prepared the wicket at Erina Oval for many seasons (awarded best country cricket pitch in 2008), have umpired and served on the Committees of Gordon, Central Coast Cricket Association and Kincumber. I am a Life Member of Kincumber Avoca Cricket Club.

In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?

It was the same year that I started playing Green Shield for Randwick, in 5th grade at the age of 15. I played during the school holidays and when there was no Saturday game for the school. Gordon ‘The Rat’ Owen was the captain of that side as I recall.

At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?

At the age of 21 on November 3rd 1984, for Waverley. I honestly can’t remember how I went, which probably tells you something, but we did have a youthful team and the club was in a rebuilding phase at that time. Ian Greig was the skipper, very astute, I learned a lot from him.

Ian Greig on the left with Phil O'Sullivan and his brother Tony

If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?

I started out as an opening bat. As I got older, I did a bit of wicket keeping and it was only Phil Emery ahead of me at Gordon at one stage. Eventually I turned to bowling offies, but don’t we all at some stage?

What were your strengths as a player?

The record will show that I was an average player, at best. Cricket was never really in my plan, I was always a better footy player than cricketer and was selected in the 1981/82 Australian Schools Rugby team and toured the UK and Northern Ireland for 9 weeks over that cricket season (David Knox was also in that side).

Before the tour I had dislocated my shoulder quite badly and, although it didn’t stop me playing then, the injury was more severe than first thought and put paid to any thoughts of a footy career and so I knuckled down and worked hard at becoming a better batsman.

I practised often, and I guess that paid off. I would say that I was a reasonably hard hitter in my younger days, not a bad slip fielder and had persistence; I was also very competitive.

What was your highest score in senior cricket?

102 not out for Gordon v Sutherland at Caringbah Oval in second grade 1990. Went in at 2 for 4 and in that game was part of (still is) Gordon all grades, record 7th wicket partnership of 145 with Stefan Hutton. We won that game against the odds, it was a good effort. I think a young Glenn McGrath might have been bowling from one end that day.

My best in 1st grade was 60 odd at Hurstville Oval against a handy attack of McKirdy, Done, Bernard and Bennett. Walked off quite bruised that day.

What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?

I took 6 one day for Kincumber Avoca v Mountains on a big turning Adcock Park wicket.

Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?

That is a really hard one, given I opened the batting at a time when all the Test and Shield players were available for their clubs more than they are these days. There were many, including the three mentioned above, but I’d say, in no particular order David Chardon had it on a string, at pace; I recall Geoff Lawson charging in from the Southern end with the trees behind him in twilight at Killara Oval; Mike Whitney was sharp and just always at you, whether it was in the Coogee Oval nets or in the middle.

Geoff Lawson

Imran Khan gets an honourable mention, for obvious reasons. It was a real thrill to have played against him. I recall the game at Waverley Oval. Imran was returning from injury so probably not at his quickest. I lofted one back over his head for 4, he smiled, said nothing and went back to his mark. The next one was definitely not in my half of the pitch and quite a bit quicker. Again, Imran smiled, said nothing and returned to his mark. He stayed around after play in the rooms and mingled with us all, it was a great experience.

Imran Khan

Who were the best three spinners you have played against? 

It’s very difficult to pick just three. But I’d say David Hourn was hands down the best. Cracker was just a master of his craft and could make the best players look silly. Murray Bennett had real control, and flight and that arm ball. Greg Matthews was a fierce competitor and crafty.

Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?

Again, so many to just pick 3 from. From my early days in Grade I think Wayne Seabrook and Rod Bower struck me as pure strikers of the ball. Dirk Wellham was pretty handy too, made a great hundred against us one afternoon at Trumper Park.

Wayne Seabrook

Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

That’s easy. Paul Watt made 200 odd at Graham Park Gosford (now Central Coast Stadium). I would put him in the same class as Seabrook and Bower for pure striking ability. A tall man, he used his long levers to great effect that day.

I was at the other end and he kept hitting a young Stephen Coombes back over his head and over the palm trees at the southern end. It was brutal. We put on over a hundred for the second wicket, and I reckon I made 10 of those.

Was there any bowler in particular who whatever reason always you to cause you a few problems?

No, to be honest they all had a pretty good chance! Greg Rowell bowled me the most memorable delivery though I think in the 1st grade final in 1990/91 at Bankstown Oval. Just as I was thinking I was getting settled, he lets go this Yorker from several stories high that I just did not get anywhere near.

Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to in grade cricket and you really had to knuckle down to survive? 

Waverley v Petersham Marrickville in 1984/85, probably my first memory of playing 1st Grade. We had knocked them over on a pretty ordinary Marrickville Oval wicket and had about 30 mins to bat late on the first day.

Out we strode and little did I know what I was in for!

The aforementioned Dave Chardon fired up and only a short spell to bowl, the pitch plating up, Graeme ‘Heaps’ Hughes providing commentary from second slip … It was certainly a level above, and I think I got hit more times than I hit it, but we survived and looking back on it now, I think it was a real lesson in what a tough proving ground Sydney Grade cricket was in the 80s.

Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

I’d have to say Phil Emery, he was a tradesman behind the stumps and very reliable. I’d give Wayne Ashworth (The Entrance) an honourable mention though; Ashy’s hands, especially standing up to the wicket, are second to none.

Wayne Ashworth

Was there an umpire you admired most in the way they were able to manage a game?

I was fortunate enough to have played in a few games in which Tom Brooks stood; I thought he was the best. I’d give Daryl Hair a wrap too, especially at Grade level, he had a good relationship with the players.

Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?

For pure talent and someone you just knew was one out of the box, Adam Gilchrist. You’d go a long way to find someone as competitive and determined as Geoff Hickman.

Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?

I learned a lot in my few seasons with Ian Greig. He led from the front, was very astute and competitive. He did really well with a young team still finding their way; he had to be very patient I expect.

Who has been your funniest team mate?

Mark O’Neill, in a dark comedic sort of way …

Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?

What happens on the field stays on the field, but I do miss the banter. There is no funnier a place than a cricket dressing room, it just brings out the real characters.

What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?

The final of the NSW Country Championships at Belmont v Newcastle, playing for North Coast (Central Coast did not have a team of their own so we had to be picked for Far North Coast and then North Coast to compete).

I was run out after knocking one down the ground for what I thought would be a leisurely single but my partner, who was a real greyhound between wickets, thought there was 2 in it, he was running to the danger end after all. I made it halfway back as the ball whistled over my head into the safe hands of the keeper. Anyway I’d made a reasonable contribution and we won that game, Newcastle had a really good side including Greg Giese, Greg Arms and Mark Curry so it was a pretty good effort.

Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?

The Late Richie Benaud is head and shoulders above the rest. From the current crop, I think the English commentators are far superior to anything we are doing, with the exception of Ricky Ponting, whose insights are always very good, as you would expect.

What was your favourite ground to play at?

I was lucky enough to play at the SCG, which tops the list obviously. I enjoyed the SCG No.2 as well. It was a great wicket and hard, fast outfield. As for Grade grounds, I think Hurstville was always good, as were Waitara, Bankstown and Caringbah. Then again, you can’t go past the GPS school grounds, Shore especially.

What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?

St George, always loved the Hurstville Oval wicket. They were just tough competitors but never over the top like some other sides.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

The 1980 Davidson Shield Final Sydney High v Albury High at SCG No.2. Geoff Milliken played in that Albury side and they had knocked us out in the semi-final the year before. We got our revenge the next year.

I had to borrow a bat that day because I had broken mine, and I made 106 after being on the drink very late the night before at a school formal. I wasn’t going to do a lot of running that day.

Geoff was bowling when I hit one over the brick wall, and he was as surprised as I was at how far it went! As I recall, the roof had been removed from the stand in preparation for the Football Stadium to be built, so it may well have been one of the last games played at that ground too.

What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?

The 1990/91 Gordon First Grade Final win, because it was unexpected and really hard won. I’d played mostly second grade that year, but Kevin Roberts got hurt so I got the call up after a few big scores and played in two really close and intense games in that final series.

Gordon First Grade Premiers 1990-91

What are your hobbies?

I’m a bit of a history buff and really love travelling these days; I’m going a bit stir crazy of late with COVID though …

What is your occupation?

I’m a Senior Operations Manager at Westpac.

Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?

Sadly, no. I have done a lot in the game though, and I’m sure I’ve given back at least some of what the game gave me. Who knows, I might turn to umpiring again one day.

If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?

Get rid of ‘Pathways’. Go back to when you proved yourself against the best in First Grade week in week out before you got recognised. Picking future talent at 13 or 14 is a lottery, at best. I know the International schedule is much different these days, but I was very fortunate to have played at a time when it was commonplace for Test and Shield players to be at practice at least once a week and to play for their clubs.

Make sure that facilities are the best they can be at grass roots level. When I left Sydney, I was appalled by the terrible state of the grounds people have to play on. It doesn’t foster the development of young talent when wickets are so poor.