Mark Higgs - the natural

Paul Ryan | February 15, 2023

Mark Higgs played first class cricket for New South Wales and South Australia

A naturally talented left hand batsman and left arm spinner Mark played 38 first class games scoring 1,915 runs at an average of 32.45 and a highest score of 181. He scored 3 centuries and 9 half centuries and took 31 wickets.

He also played 65 one day games scoring 1,328 runs and took 32 wickets.

Mark was also selected to play for Australia in an ICC one day tournament in Kenya.

Firstly, what year were you born?

1976

Where did you go the high school?

Queanbeyan High School

Do you remember your first ever game of cricket?

I was 9. I remember Queanbeyan had the numbers for two teams and I managed to make the 1st team. We played Queanbeyan 2’s in our first game and we were bowled out for 10. My best mate Nathan Reid and I scored 8 of them. 

Where did you play your junior cricket?

Queanbeyan District Cricket Club

At what age did you start playing senior cricket in Canberra and how quickly did you start moving through the grades?

I started playing grade cricket at about 13 and played 3rd grade with a bloke called Neil Bulger who played with my father and was a country cricket legend. One of our ovals is named after him. I had a season and a half with him before I was picked for 2nd grade. I was lucky enough to make a couple of scores and was selected in 1st grade when I was 15.

Can you remember your first grade debut in Canberra?

We played Ginninderra. I remember being told where to sit in the change rooms and I didn’t mingle at all as I looked up to these guys for years. The nucleus of side was Peter Solway, John Bull, Michael Frost, Mark Steele and Colin Crouch. I think at the time we had 10 players in the Canberra representative squad. I remember being on lunch duties as well which also taught me how to drive. We battered first and on a flat deck and were in trouble at 6 for about 100 odd when I came in at 8. We had lost a couple more wickets and the guy batting 10 and I put on 100 odd before we were bowled out. I ended up on 72 not out. We won the game and that started me off.

What were your cricketing ambitions?

I, like so many others, had dreams of playing for NSW and Australia. I watched Brian Lara score 277 at the SCG and thought I would love to play there one day. 

Brain Lara - 277 at the SCG

You made your first class debut for the Canberra Comets, can you remember the game what it meant for a young local player to be picked to play for ACT?

I can remember it well. I had a couple of years of playing grade cricket in Sydney for Hawkesbury which had introduced me to tougher brand of cricket and was lucky enough to play NSW 2ndXI. I’d had also spent the winter at the Cricket Academy in Adelaide.

When the Comets came into the comp Rod Marsh said I should go back and have a crack. So I did.

We played South Australia in the first game and bowled them out for around the 220 mark. I got 3 for 30 odd bowling left arm chinamans. We had the game just about won before I ran out Peter Solway and myself and we capitulated.

On top of that I just missed the Mercantile sign by about 5cms which was worth $90k. I really enjoyed that summer playing for the Comets, there was no real pressure on us and we just had a crack. We played against Victoria in our second game and I remember Dean Jones telling us a day before the game we didn’t deserve to be here and I thought to myself what a wanker. We won that game and I got him out first ball. I may have suggested something about where the change rooms were. 

What prompted the move to Sydney and how did you end up playing for Hawkesbury?

I moved to Sydney after I finished school and was lucky enough to have a few contacts in Sydney. I ended up at Hawkesbury after strong conversations with Jack Wilson who was chairman of selectors at NSW Cricket. I was lucky enough to score some runs against NSW 2nd XI as a schoolboy for ACTCA and he was watching. I loved my time at the Hawks and they looked after me really well. I’m still close mates with guys from those days.

You then transferred to Northern District, why was that?

After playing one season for the Comets I knew the goal was to play first class cricket. Brad Haddin and I moved up to Sydney together and needed to find a club that suited both of us. We fitted in well at Northern District after we turned up late to the first training session after a few cheeky beers the night before. 

Brad Haddin takes a spectacular catch against India

What did you enjoy most playing Grade Cricket in Sydney?

I loved playing grade cricket in Sydney. When I first started I copped loads from the oppositions. It was the sink or swim process that I enjoyed and prove I was good enough. I enjoyed playing against quality players that didn’t give an inch. Club training was done properly and everyone was trying to play first grade.

I enjoyed the social side of cricket and knocking around other club cricketers. Probably spent too much time in the pub in hindsight! Looking back now it was the change room that I remember fondly.

What was your most favourite ground to play at in Sydney?

Waitara Oval (Mark Taylor Oval)

What was your highest score in Grade Cricket in Sydney?

197 v Gordon.

You played 38 first class games and 65 one day games for NSW and South Australia, can you describe how you felt and how you found out about your selection to play for NSW?

My first season back in Sydney I managed to score about 600 run before Christmas and was selected for NSW. I was blown away with the selection and thought to myself I’m not ready for this.

I remember getting my baggy blue from Steve Waugh who was out injured at the time. I may have worn my kit to bed!

Batting order from memory was Slater, Taylor, M Waugh, Bevan, Higgs, S Lee. Seeing my name amongst those was awesome but a little confronting. We played Tasmania, bowled them out for 120 odd and we were 2 for 70 when it rained the rest of the match. Shane Lee and Brad McNamara introduced me to another side of cricket.

What prompted the move to South Australia?

Greg Chappell was coaching South Australia at the time and he actually contacted my father. I was loving Sydney but dad talked me into it. 

What were the challenges of playing first-class cricket and how did you deal with them?

I had a few challengers playing first class cricket. Looking back now I put too much pressure on myself and struggle to let things go. I was selected for Australia early and that heightened my mental state. I had a decent skill set but was so inconsistent mentally. We didn’t talk about back then, we just went out and got on the beers. 

What was your highest score in First Class cricket?

181 not out for NSW against Qld at SCG. 

What was your best bowling figures in First Class cricket?

4 for 25 for South Australia v NSW at SCG

Is there a particular batsman or bowler you came up against in first class cricket where you thought, wow how good is this?

I guess when I think about this it was probably facing the quicks. Brett Lee tried to kill me one day after I first left NSW. Steve Waugh was captain and he just peppered me, short leg, fly slip, 3 out at square leg. Bing was at the peak of his powers at that stage and a great experience even though I was shitting myself. I also upset Alan Donald one day which was fun.

Brett Lee

In 1999/2000 you were selected to replace an injured Shane Warne in an ICC Knockout Tournament in Kenya. Can you tell us a little more about that experience?

Great experience! I played the warm up matches against Kenya and England. I played ok, made 40 against Kenya and got a few wickets. England was also a great experience. Graeme Hick tried to take me down and got him out and copped some grief for giving him a send-off. We lost to India in the opening game and were knocked out. Touring with the Aussie team was awesome, we did some great cultural experiences and just being in the squad was a dream come true. It’s a strange feeling really playing with your idols.  

Can you describe the differences in Grade Cricket in Sydney compared to Adelaide?

Unfortunately Grade cricket Adelaide is not as strong as Sydney. Our club team was great when we were at full strength. Harris, Lehmann, Manou, Cosgrove, Duval.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?

Being selected to play for Australia and NSW. My best memories are playing with good blokes who didn’t take themselves too seriously. I miss the change rooms the most.

Who’s been the biggest influence/mentor in your cricket career?

My dad, especially growing up and early into my career. 

Who was the funniest cricketing team mate?

Jason Swift

Who is your favourite all time cricketer?

Brian Lara

What was the best win you were involved in?

Any win is good win

If you’re in the middle seat of the middle row of Qantas QF1flight to London which team mates would you choose to on your left and right?

Jason Swift and Brad Haddin

Who were the top 3 players in cricket you admired most?

Allan Border, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne

Allan Border

Who were the 3 bowlers who you found particularly difficulty or challenging to bat against?

Anyone at the Gabba and dibbly dobblers.

Who were the 3 batsman who you found particularly difficulty or challenging to bowl to?

Anyone who blocked the shit out of it on slow wickets. Hard to say any batsmen, everyone scored runs against me.

Who was the best spinner you played against?

Greg Matthews.

Who was the quickest bowler you cane up against?

Brett Lee, from the time we played school cricket together at South Coast right through to that day at the SCG. 

What’s the best advice you ever received?

Nothing good happens after midnight.

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

I do quite a bit of private coaching and specialise in Spin coaching. We have a lot to learn in an ever changing environment. Spin is a neglected art that needs work.

What do you enjoy about coaching and what’s your philosophy in terms of how cricketers play today as compared to when you first started coming through the grades and first class scene?

My philosophy is to produce cricketers that can play for Australia or have the skills to enjoy the game for a lifetime. Nothing has really changed, we need strong fundamentals and the ability to train with a conscious mind to improve and allow our subconscious mind to take over in high pressure situations.

Grade cricket and first class cricket gives you the ability to train with people who are as good if not better than you. Grade cricket provides this in spades. First class cricket produces the best players in the world. Coaching is always about the individual's ability to learn and improve. This hasn’t changed but we have too many coaches these days, all of whom try to provide their point of difference.

Believe in people that believe in you.

What advice would you offer a young 16 year old who has the ambition of playing test cricket?

At 16 you’re not going to get picked for Australia. You need failure as a part of your development! If you don’t get picked in teams, find a way!

All legends have failed at times, but they learnt and found a way to improve. Enjoy your teammates' success. If you have a great year as a batsman you probably had 5 good days out of 40. It’s the love of the change room and friendships that will get you there.

What are your hobbies?

Family holidays, Golf, Cricket

What is your occupation?

Real Estate

You may as well give your employer a plug, who do you work for?

Mark Higgs Property

How do you look back on your cricket career? 

Love and respect! What a great game. I wish I handled it better upstairs.

Are there any lessons from your time in cricket that you take into work or life in general?

Everything from cricket makes me the person I am today. Loyalty, respectful and hard working