Bernie Maher Cricketer
Bernard Joseph Michael Maher (born February 11, 1958) was an English cricketer. 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 Taylor 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.