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Jimmy Maher
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James Patrick Maher (born 27 February 1974) is an Australian former cricketer, who played One Day Internationals. He is "an attractive left-handed batsman with a clumping cover-drive".[1] He was a part of the Australian squad which won the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
Key Information
Maher competed in the Gladiator Team Sports Challenge in 1995.
Domestic career
[edit]The following two seasons were a prolific pair for Maher playing for Queensland, a time which included a period at Glamorgan. In 2001–02, he became the first batsman to reach 1000 runs in the Pura Cup.
On 25 February 2007, Maher was named Man of the Match in the Ford Rangers Cup Final against the Victorian Bushrangers after making 108 from 133 balls. The Queensland Bulls went on to win the match by 21 runs.[2] It was the third time that he had scored a century for Queensland in a One Day domestic final.
He retired from all types of cricket at the end of the Australian 2007–08 domestic season. Soon afterwards, he joined the Zee Telefilms' rebel Indian Cricket League, playing for the Hyderabad Heroes as an opening batsman.
Having spent two season at Durham Maher played for Glamorgan in 2007 after supporters funded the signing.[3]
International career
[edit]He was first selected to play for Australia in two one-day matches in 1997–98, due to illness and injury respectively to Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh.
He came back into the international fold in 2002, after the Waugh brothers were sacked following an ODI season in which Australia failed to make the finals of the triangular ODI series. He responded with a steady innings of 95 against South Africa. He was included in the Australian ODI squad as a spare batsman and as a fill-in wicketkeeper for the next few seasons, including the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
Controversy
[edit]On 11 February 2007 Maher was criticised by South Australian cricket captain Darren Lehmann for not declaring to make a game of their Pura Cup match at the Gabba. Lehmann said he thought he was playing Tasmania referring to Tasmania's reliance on final day run chases.[4]
Maher caused controversy in 1995 following Queensland's Sheffield Shield win over South Australia, when he said during a television interview "I'm as full as a coon's Valiant". Indigenous Australians criticised Maher for his statement and its racial undertone. Maher later publicly apologised over the statement.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Jimmy Maher". ESPNcricinfo. June 2006. Retrieved 16 January 2007.
- ^ "Victoria Vs Queensland". ESPNcricinfo. February 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2007.
- ^ Supporters pay for Maher's return to Glamorgan, ESPNcricinfo, Retrieved on 17 October 2007
- ^ Morton, Jim (February 2007). "Lehmann vows to make Bulls Fry". The Advertiser. Retrieved 12 February 2007 – via Newsbank.
- ^ Koori Mail, "Maher apologises at Shield celebration", 19 April 1995, p. 16.
External links
[edit] | ||
Jason Gillespie, Shane Warne and Shane Watson were named in the original squad but withdrew from the tournament | ||
Jimmy Maher
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
James Patrick Maher (born 27 February 1974) is a former Australian cricketer who played as a left-handed batsman primarily for Queensland in domestic cricket.[1][2]
Born in Innisfail, Queensland, Maher debuted for the state at age 18 in the 1993–94 season and contributed to Queensland's inaugural Sheffield Shield victory the following year.[1][3]
He captained Queensland during a successful period, achieving notable milestones such as becoming the first batsman to score 1,000 runs in a single domestic first-class season in 2001–02.[3]
Maher represented Australia in two One Day Internationals in 1997–98 and was part of the squad that won the 2003 Cricket World Cup, though he played limited international matches due to competition from established players.[1][2]
In domestic limited-overs cricket, he holds records including a national-high 187 runs off 129 balls in an interstate match, underscoring his aggressive strokeplay characterized by a powerful cover drive.[1]
Post-retirement, Maher has remained involved in cricket through initiatives like the Bulls Masters, promoting the sport in regional Queensland.[4]
Early life
Childhood and introduction to cricket
James Patrick Maher was born on 27 February 1974 in Innisfail, a town in far north Queensland located just south of Cairns.[1] Growing up in this rural area, Maher developed an early interest in cricket, initially playing in Cairns before relocating to Brisbane to advance his skills through club cricket with the Northern Suburbs club.[5] Maher's formal introduction to competitive cricket came through representative youth teams, where he featured for Queensland Under-17 in the 1990–91 season and Queensland Under-19 in the 1991–92 season.[5] These appearances marked his progression from local and club levels to state junior honors, paving the way for his first-class debut for Queensland at age 18 during the 1992–93 season.[6]Education and early achievements
Maher was born on 27 February 1974 in Innisfail, Queensland, and raised in Cairns, where he attended Convent School and St Augustine's College.[5] He later boarded at Nudgee College in Brisbane from 1990 to 1991, a school renowned for its sporting programs.[7][5] Maher began playing cricket in Cairns before relocating to Brisbane to join Northern Suburbs club, making his first-grade debut at age 15.[5] He represented Queensland at under-17 level in the 1990–91 season and under-19 level in 1991–92 and 1992–93, showcasing early promise as a left-handed opening batsman.[5] At 18, he debuted for Queensland in first-class cricket during the 1992–93 Sheffield Shield season, contributing to the team's inaugural title win the following year.[5][3]Cricket career
Domestic career with Queensland
James Patrick Maher represented Queensland in first-class and List A cricket from the 1994–95 season until his retirement in 2008.[8] He made his first-class debut during the 1994–95 Sheffield Shield season and contributed to the team's first-ever title win that year.[5][7] Maher enjoyed prolific seasons for the Queensland Bulls, notably becoming the first batsman to score 1,000 runs in a single domestic first-class season during 2001–02.[3] He participated in multiple Sheffield Shield victories, including those in 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2000–01, and 2001–02.[9] In limited-overs domestic cricket, he scored centuries in three finals, demonstrating his prowess in high-pressure matches. Succeeding Stuart Law as captain, Maher led Queensland from around 2003, enduring five consecutive final losses before securing the 2005–06 Pura Cup (Sheffield Shield) title.[1] In the decisive final against Victoria, he scored 223 runs, earning Man of the Match honors in a performance that sealed the victory.[6] Maher announced his retirement from Queensland cricket following the 2007–08 season, concluding a career that included nine Sheffield Shield triumphs with the team.[10]
International career for Australia
Maher debuted in One Day International (ODI) cricket for Australia on 14 January 1998 against New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground, selected as an opening batsman amid injuries to Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh.[1][11] He played two ODIs during that 1997–98 season before fading from national selection.[1] Following consistent domestic form for Queensland, Maher earned a recall in the 2002–03 season, opening in several matches and contributing to Australia's dominant ODI campaigns.[2] Over his international career spanning 1998 to 2003, he featured in 26 ODIs, batting in 20 innings for 438 runs at an average of 25.76, with a highest score of 95, a strike rate of 65.08, one half-century, 40 fours, and 7 sixes.[1][12] He opened the batting in 11 of those innings and top-scored for Australia once.[12] Maher participated in the 1999 Cricket World Cup, playing two matches and scoring 35 runs with a highest of 26.[13] Despite his left-handed aggression suiting limited-overs cricket, he never earned a Test cap, remaining on the fringes of Australia's star-studded top order.[1] His final ODI appearance came on 9 November 2003 against New Zealand in Guwahati, India.[1]Captaincy and leadership roles
Maher first demonstrated leadership potential in youth cricket, captaining Queensland's Under-19 team during the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons, as well as representing the state Under-17 side in 1990-91.[5] He later assumed the captaincy of Australia A during a tour or series against South Africa in early 2003, though he stepped down mid-series upon being called into the senior Test squad for the West Indies tour in April 2003.[14] Maher was appointed captain of Queensland for the 2002-03 domestic season, succeeding Stuart Law following the latter's departure at the end of 2001-02; the announcement came in May 2002.[15][16] He led the side across both first-class (Pura Cup, later Sheffield Shield) and limited-overs (ING Cup, later Ford Ranger Cup) formats until relinquishing the role at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season.[17] Under Maher's leadership, Queensland endured an initial period of finals heartbreak, losing five domestic finals consecutively before achieving success, including the 2005-06 Pura Cup title—secured with a victory over Victoria, where Maher scored 223 runs in a man-of-the-match performance—and the 2006-07 Ford Ranger Cup.[1][16][6] These triumphs marked the first major silverware in each format during his tenure, contributing to Queensland's reputation as a dominant domestic force.[1]Playing style and performance
Batting technique and versatility
Jimmy Maher employed a classical left-handed batting technique, characterized by elegant strokeplay and a signature powerful cover drive executed with precision and class.[1][2] He prioritized timing to maximize shot value rather than raw power, supported by a solid defensive foundation that enabled prolonged resistance against quality bowling attacks.[18] This approach proved effective in both first-class and limited-overs formats, where he averaged 39 in four-day cricket and 44 in one-day matches for Queensland.[18] His versatility extended to positional flexibility, allowing him to open the innings or bat anywhere in the top six as required by team needs.[18] Maher's agility between the wickets—described as whippet-like due to his compact stature—facilitated sharp running and partnership-building, while his repertoire included sweeps for adapting to spin-friendly conditions.[18] This adaptability was highlighted by his milestone as the first batsman to exceed 1,000 runs in a Pura Cup season during 2001–02, reflecting technical resilience over 10 matches.[2]Key statistics and records
Maher accumulated 13,149 runs in 206 first-class matches at an average of 38.78, including 27 centuries and 61 half-centuries, with a career-best score of 223 achieved against South Australia in the 2001–02 Pura Cup.[19][1] His List A record comprises 7,439 runs in 214 matches at an average of 39.15, featuring a highest score of 187.[20] In One Day Internationals, Maher featured in 26 matches for Australia between 1998 and 2004, batting at an average of 25.76 without reaching a half-century.[11] He contributed to Australia's 2003 World Cup-winning squad, though his personal output was limited in the tournament.[1] A standout achievement was his 187 off 129 balls against Tasmania in the 2003–04 ING Cup on February 13, 2004, which set a then-national record for the highest individual score in Australian domestic one-day cricket and powered Queensland to 405/4 en route to a 207-run victory.[21] Maher was a prolific domestic one-day performer, leading the run-scoring in the ING Cup during the 2004–05 season with 490 runs at an average of 44.54 across 11 innings.[22] In first-class cricket, he recorded multiple double-centuries, including 209 against South Australia in 2001–02, contributing to his season aggregate exceeding 1,000 runs.[1]| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | Highest | Centuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-class | 206 | 13,149 | 38.78 | 223 | 27 |
| List A | 214 | 7,439 | 39.15 | 187 | - |
| ODIs | 26 | - | 25.76 | - | 0 |