Mark Cameron

Mark Cameron was unfortunate not to play in the Pura Cup final against Tasmania in 2006-07, having taken 5 for 116 against the same opposition less than a fortnight earlier. He had gained his place in the team because Matthew Nicholson was unavailable while preparing for the birth of twins, so when Nicholson returned for the decider Cameron was squeezed out. A year later it was déjà vu when Cameron was dropped along with Nicholson when Lee, Bracken and Clark were available for the defeat of Victoria. "I'd love to be there," he said before the game, "but if I'm not, such is life."

By that stage of the season Cameron was the form bowler and had taken over Doug Bollinger's heavy wicket-taking role. In four first-class matches he captured 27 victims, including 6 for 101 and ten for the match against Victoria. He followed up with another nine Sheffield Shield victims and five in the FR Cup in 2008-09 before being struck by a back problem that ended his season. The rise of New South Wales' young crop of pacemen didn't stop him from holding on to his contract for 2010-11, even though he didn't appear in the previous campaign.

Back stress fractures troubled him early in his career and he played one first-class match in 2002-03 without taking a wicket. A former NSWIS Colts fast bowler, Cameron fought his way back into the New South Wales senior squad in 2005-06 after a three-year break. He also helps out as a coach and has developed a system that allows coaches to monitor player workload that has been used at state and national level.
Cricinfo staff August 2010