Mark Gauci
June 2009 (stats to end of 08/09)
A power hitter, Mark started off in one-day cricket with Moonee Valley but was quickly promoted to the senior sides. He's now First Eleven captain.
He has played 130 games, made 3000 runs, including seven centuries, and taken 90+ wickets. Mark was 1999/00 Club champion and in 2001/02 and 2002/03 won the 2nd Eleven batting award.
He was one of Moonee Valley's 2005/06 five Wisden Cricketers of the Year, and that season realised his long-held ambition of captaining the First Eleven.
Mark's citation as Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2005/06 read:
Mark Gauci
"Mark’s great start to the season spearheaded Moonee Valley’s push to the top in the First Eleven, then he was given the job of holding everything together when personnel changes and injuries to key players after Christmas left the team depleted in the batting department. Mark’s elevation to the captaincy was a fitting reward for the dedication and high standards of a man who originally joined Moonee Valley for the slap-and-giggle of one-day cricket. Mark’s century against Old Mentonians was his seventh for the club – equal fourth-best of all time at Moonee Valley. Mark’s season gleaned 308 runs @ 38.5, and his deceptive slow bowling reaped him 17 wickets in the highest grade at 20.9, with a magnificent 6/39 in Round 2. Mark – this season’s Club Champion winner – is a wonderful role model to our young players: He proudly states he’s at Moonee Valley for the long haul and will be a 200-game player."
Nickname: Gauch or Bear
Favorite drink: Jack Daniels
Favorite food: Thai
Favorite Test cricketer (current or former) Shane Warne
Why do you admire them? Everybody wants to drag him down, but he is still at the top.
Favorite Moonee Valley Cricketer Joe Ansaldo
Why do you admire him? It's not about him - it's all about the club. He has done a lot for the club, and is under-rated.
You/your attributes/your career ? Nine years at the club to 05/06 season. Four years as a captain, four years on committee, two years as chairman of selectors. "I love the game and the club I play for. I will play 200 games or more - trust me!"
Your proudest cricketing moment with Moonee Valley: Making a 105 in the Firsts, and being the first person to make a hundred in each of the top four grades.
Your funniest cricketing moment with Moonee Valley? Sambo coming out to field with three dim sims in one pocket and chocolate cake in the other, and finding time to eat it within three overs.
