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Bernie Maher

Bernie Maher
Personal information
Full name Bernard Joseph Michael Maher
Born (1958-02-11) 11 February 1958 (age 59)
Hillingdon, Middlesex, England
Batting style Right-handed
Role Wicketkeeper
Domestic team information
Years Team
1981–93 Derbyshire
First-class debut 29 July 1981 Derbyshire v Gloucestershire
Last First-class 28 June 1993 Derbyshire v Lancashire
List A debut 2 August 1981 Derbyshire v Essex
Last List A 27 June 1993 Derbyshire v Lancashire
Career statistics
Competition First-class List A
Matches 133 111
Runs scored 3689 1177
Batting average 21.82 16.12
100s/50s 4/17 –/2
Top score 126 78
Balls bowled 270
Wickets 4
Bowling average 58.50
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match
Best bowling 2/69
Catches/stumpings 289/14 105/12
Source: CricketArchive, 1 November 2010

Bernard Joseph Michael Maher (born 11 February 1958) was an English Professional Cricketer and is a Fly-Fishing International .

Maher was born in Hillingdon, Middlesex,West London,and was of Irish extraction.

As a cricketer, he was a right-handed batsman and a wicket-keeper who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire from 1981 and 1995.

Maher played Under 16 and 18 age-group cricket for Middlesex CCC. His senior cricketing debut came in 1977, when he played for the first time for Middlesex's Second XI. against Yorkshire at Hornsey. and a further game versus the Combined Services, before pursuing his academic studies.

He began reading Economics and Accountancy at Loughborough University in 1978 graduating with a BSc in 1981. Captaining Loughborough University, against Derbyshire in 1981, Maher's talent was spotted by Philip Russell The then Derbyshire Coach, and was asked to play a series of 2nd team games. Maher's debut was against Gloucestershire CCC in 1981, taking 5 catches and a stumping on debut, suitably impressed,Derbyshire signed him on a 2 year contract.

His batting skills matured at the County Ground,and Derbyshire's new pace attack, headed West Indies paceman Michael Holding and Devon Malcolm, Maher was promoted to the role of opening batsman. Maher was described in 'The Cricketer Magazine',as a very courageous batsman, used a foil against opposition bowling attacks, on Derbyshire's green, bowler friendly wickets'. Against the New Zealand's tourists in 1986, Maher scored 126, complimenting his 100's against Leicestershire CCC, and Surrey CCC, and Cambridge University.

After a number of years in the role of Wicketkeeper Opening /Batsman in 1990 it was a surprise to see teammate Karl Krikken was coming to the forefront of the selectors' minds. Whilst Krikken had wicketkeeping talent, he was never going to make the all round contribution,that Maher made to the team. Maher took on the role of Derbyshire Second Team Coach in 1990, however was on call for the first team, and played a large part of the 1993 season for the first team due to injuries, his final game being against Lancashire CCC in 1993. Maher stayed in the role as Player Coach until 1995 when a lower back injury forced his retirement.

Gerald Mortimer a ' Derbyshire Evening Telegraph' journalist, in an article in 1995, described Maher, 'as a man who you would want on your side, as he would never let you down'. After his retirement from cricket, Maher continued commentating for BBC Radio and, after his cricketing days came to a close, worked as a Financial Consultant, and a Fly-Fishing instructor.


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