Bernie Maher
Encyclopedia
Bernard Joseph Michael Maher (born February 11, 1958) was an English
cricket
er. He was a right-handed batsman and a wicket-keeper who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire
between 1981 and 1993. Of Irish extraction, he was born in Hillingdon
, Middlesex
.
Maher's cricketing debut came in 1977, when he played for the first time for Middlesex
's Second XI. He was not to make another cricketing appearance for any county until he signed for Derbyshire
in 1981. As the man touted to follow Bob Taylor
as the next great wicket-keeper, his debut came in 1981 as his team-mate was tied up playing in the famous 1981 Ashes series won by England.
As Michael Deakin
retired in 1984, it was automatically assumed that Maher would take his place, though his poor batting form saw him lose out to Chris Marples. Following the justification of his inclusion into the squad thanks to a century against New Zealand
's tourists, Maher kept wicket for the rest of 1986, though subsequently was only sporadically called upon as an opener.
Having appeared in nearly every one of Derbyshire's matches between 1987 and 1989, it was just as much of a surprise to see Maher suffer from poor batting form just as team-mate Karl Krikken
was coming to the forefront of the selectors' minds. After appearing for the side only four times between 1990 and 1992, his next starring roles within the first team only came as a result of an injury to Krikken in 1993. Maher continued his Second XI career, however, and continued to act in his role as Second XI captain until 1995, a role which he had held since 1990.
After his retirement from cricket, Maher commenced commentating for Derbyshire and, after his cricketing days came to a close, pursued other interests, including fly fishing
, for which he was National Champion in 2004.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. He was a right-handed batsman and a wicket-keeper who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
between 1981 and 1993. Of Irish extraction, he was born in Hillingdon
Hillingdon
Hillingdon is a suburban area within the London Borough of Hillingdon, situated 14.2 miles west of Charing Cross.Much of Hillingdon is represented as the Hillingdon East ward within the local authority, Hillingdon Council...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
.
Maher's cricketing debut came in 1977, when he played for the first time for Middlesex
Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
's Second XI. He was not to make another cricketing appearance for any county until he signed for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
in 1981. As the man touted to follow Bob Taylor
Bob Taylor (cricketer)
Robert William Taylor , known as Bob Taylor, is a former English cricketer who played as wicket-keeper for Derbyshire between 1961 and 1984 and for England between 1971 and 1984. He made 57 Test, and 639 first class cricket appearances in total, taking 1,473 catches. The 2,069 victims across his...
as the next great wicket-keeper, his debut came in 1981 as his team-mate was tied up playing in the famous 1981 Ashes series won by England.
As Michael Deakin
Michael Deakin
Michael Deakin is a former English cricketer who played for Derbyshire in 1981.Deakin was born at Bury, Lancashire. In 1979 he was playing cricket for Combined Services and for the RAF. He joined Derbyshire for the 1981 season as a stopgap solution to a Derbyshire wicket-keeper shortage, while Bob...
retired in 1984, it was automatically assumed that Maher would take his place, though his poor batting form saw him lose out to Chris Marples. Following the justification of his inclusion into the squad thanks to a century against New Zealand
New Zealand cricket team
The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed the Black Caps, are the national cricket team representing New Zealand. They played their first in 1930 against England in Christchurch, New Zealand, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. It took the team until 1955–56 to win a Test, against the...
's tourists, Maher kept wicket for the rest of 1986, though subsequently was only sporadically called upon as an opener.
Having appeared in nearly every one of Derbyshire's matches between 1987 and 1989, it was just as much of a surprise to see Maher suffer from poor batting form just as team-mate Karl Krikken
Karl Krikken
Karl Matthew Krikken is a former English cricketer who kept wicket for Derbyshire for most of his career, which spanned 16 years between 1987 and 2003....
was coming to the forefront of the selectors' minds. After appearing for the side only four times between 1990 and 1992, his next starring roles within the first team only came as a result of an injury to Krikken in 1993. Maher continued his Second XI career, however, and continued to act in his role as Second XI captain until 1995, a role which he had held since 1990.
After his retirement from cricket, Maher commenced commentating for Derbyshire and, after his cricketing days came to a close, pursued other interests, including fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
, for which he was National Champion in 2004.