Michael Mason

[Hurricane]

Michael Mason, still bowling them over | Stuff.co.nz

"Your preparation's important, that's what I believe in. But talking is over-rated. I've never been a big believer in it."

Could be his last season although Adam Milne is trying to talk him into staying on another year.

[Flem274*]

Pants are off. Mason WAG.

IMO, he suffered from being seen as a boring line and length bowler (which he wasn't just, had seam, bounce and accuracy in the mid to high 130s and sometimes swung it) when we had some decent bowlers in the test side and when we didn't, there were some left field selections in place of the likes of Mason and O'Brien (like the young Ian Butler).

I think he should have played more tests, but by the time O'Brien blew the "NZ long term journeymen with awesome records are rubbish" theory out of the water, Mason was on the decline.

Didn't have the greatest test debut either, and was given the chop pretty quickly.

The man is a champion domestically, and stands alongside Mathew Sinclair as an iconic player for Central Districts in the modern era.

[Flem274*]

From a guy with an almost legendary disdain of introspection and team meetings, an admission of nervousness comes as a shock.

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"Your preparation's important, that's what I believe in. But talking is over-rated. I've never been a big believer in it."

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"I definitely like leading by example for these young guys," Mason said. "I think if you can get out there and give it heaps, it's a good way of helping guys learn and it also gives them something to look up to. We've got Bondy at the moment, so if they want to talk to me I just send them to him.

"All the kids that have come through are great little guys and I just try to pat them on the back when they've done well and give them confidence."

[Athlai]

Mason since O'Brien's retirement would still have potentially been our top Test wicket taker if he played.

[Hurricane]

Mason's FC bowling average of 24.6 in 83 games certainly shows his class.

[African Monkey]

Thought he was unlucky to have missed out to O'Brien a couple of seasons back. O'Brien however took his opportunity when given a second chance and never looked back.

[Prince EWS]

Mason can get in line behind Adams in the 'NZ bowlers with ridiculous First Class records highly unlucky not to have played more Tests' stakes but yes, worse bowlers than Mason played more Tests for NZ than him during his prime. That he's been able to keep gunning it for CD instead has been no skin off my nose though.

[Hurricane]

Bumping this thread to get the Mase some votes for most favourite cricketer. Top post by Flem in this thread.

[Hurricane]

The Central Stags can stand and salute stalwart Michael Mason, who signed off his career in fairytale fashion when he helped win a gripping Ford Trophy one-day final with one ball to spare today.

Mason, a 37-year-old better known for his niggardly seam bowling, covered himself in glory by clouting a career high 41 not out off 19 balls as the Stags chased down the Auckland Aces’ challenging 282 for eight at New Plymouth.

Mason, who’d early picked up three wickets, clubbed 20 runs off the 49th over from left-arm fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan to leave the hosts requiring only six off the final over from Chris Martin at Pukekura Park.

He and Martin Kain, who ended up unbeaten on 23 off 15, duly completed their work to cap an outstanding chase from the Stags after their cause looked doomed at 226 for eight in the 46th over.

But Mason and Kain stepped into the breach, putting on 60 for the ninth wicket in a 27-ball partnership which hits its straps in the penultimate over when Mason twice hit McClenaghan over the ropes.

New Zealand Cricket - Match Report

Perfect finish to his List A career. Will he play any of the final FC games or was this his last game ever?