Mark Cosgrove - a brief profile by Andrew Hignell

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Player:

MJ Cosgrove

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DateLine: 9th April 2006

 

Mark Cosgrove joined Glamorgan as one of their overseas batsman in 2006 following the withdrawl through injury of fellow South Australian Matthew Elliott.

 

The left-hander is one of the most promising young batsmen emerging in Australia, and after a prolific season for his state in both four-day and one-day cricket, he is being tipped for a place in the Australian squad for the Ashes series in 2006/07 and the 2007 World Cup.

 

In the longer form of the game in 2005/06, Cosgrove rattled up 631 runs at an average of 63.10 - an aggregate surpassed by only eight other players, and during the recent season, he also registered a career-best 184 against Victoria. In one-day matches, the left-hander amassed 591 runs at an average of 73.87 with centuries against Queensland and also Western Australia.

 

Cosgrove`s outstanding form for his state during the past season led former Australian batsman Darren Lehmann to tip the 21 year-old as being a key member of Australia`s party for the next World Cup. "He has really improved this year and he is the guy they need to really look after and play in the next couple of one-day series to get him to the World Cup. They need to get him to the World Cup really quickly. He is a bloke who can win a World Cup for Australia -he is that good a player. He hits the ball as clean as I have ever seen anyone hit them."

 

The left-hander has already played for Australia Under 19 and the Australian Cricket Academy. He made his first-class debut for South Australia in 2002/03, and the following season played for Australia A against Zimbabwe.

 

(April 2006)

(Article: Copyright © 2006 Dr.A.K.Hignell)