Camden District Cricket Association: Bradbury cricketer’s brave climb to game 400

Every time Mark De Luca threatens to hang up the bat, the Bradbury cricketer replaces a body part and keeps pumping out the runs. This is his incredible journey to game 400.

Bradbury Cricket Club legend Mark De Luca walks out to field during his 400th senior game for the club. Picture: Bradbury CC

Mark De Luca knows how to take a break from cricket, but more importantly to his teammates, the 59-year-old doesn’t know how to retire.

On Saturday, October 12, the never-say-die sixth-grader took guard in his 400th match for Bradbury Cricket Club.

Glowing after a welcoming pre-match testimonial from the Camden captain, things suddenly turned nasty for the resilient opener.

“I got hit in the back of the head,” said Mark following his milestone knock of 21 at Camden’s Onslow Oval.

“I did the wrong thing. The pitch was a bit up and down and one of their boys was quite sharp and dropped one in short, and I turned my head and got hit.”

As for hiccups, it was a blip on the radar in a journey that started way back in 1981 – the same year Trevor Chappell’s underarm delivery rocked the game’s foundations.

1981: The year Trevor Chappell bowled underarm for Australia and Mark De Luca kicked off his senior career at Bradbury.

Across five decades, the one-time king of inswing bowling has been rocked by a marriage break-up and numerous career threatening injuries, only to rise above the dust to become a genuine Macarthur astro-turf warrior.

A self-confessed Dennis Lillee fan growing up, De Luca has just about seen it all on a variety of surfaces including coir matting, concrete and canvas.

After battling to hold down a first grade spot as a teenager, the seamer was on track for a top grade title until it all came crashing down.

“The standard of cricket in Campbelltown was really high back then, there were always players coming back from Sydney grade, so it was really hard to get a spot in the top side,” Mark said.

“It wasn’t until the late 90s that I held down a permanent first grade spot. I played about eight seasons, but gave it all away when my marriage broke up.

“I only got back into it again after I met Andrea. We are still together now, and she encouraged me get back into it.”

It turned out to be prophetic advice, not only setting the wheels in motion for a breakthrough title, but a journey that shows no signs of slowing down.

“That was ahead of the 2002-03 season. I actually started in fourth grade, but ended up taking the most wickets in first grade and we won the comp,” he said.

Strapping on the pads well before the digital age, Mark’s best stats remain parked in a dusty vault. An 8/17 and top score of 132 are fresh in the memory, just like the sum of his missing body parts.

Mark De Luca holds up his milestone shirt. Picture: Bradbury CC

“I used to play soccer for Campbelltown City in the winter and had a groin injury for years that ended up damaging my hip,” he explained.

“I got it replaced in 2011 and had a few years off, then I got my knee replaced in 2019. The doctors always tell me to give it away, but that’s not going to happen, the next one will be my shoulder.”

Having played the best part of 40 seasons without a helmet, the Bradbury stalwart had a change of heart several summers back when a teammate’s face “blew up like a balloon” following a top edge.

A proud father of daughter Sunshine and son Phoenix, Mark has coached and played alongside both in a career packed with memories from friends and foes alike.

“I’ve pretty much had everything said to me,” he said. “But one match against Cobbitty-Narellan stands out, when a pace bowler started sledging me from the top of his mark and continued swearing at me as he ran in until he delivered the ball.

“There was another game where we got rolled for 24 at Bradbury Oval No.2 in a semi final, and actually won. They scored 140 and one bloke hit 50 and took 5/4, but he was actually a first grader from Canberra playing under another name.

“He got found out and the result was overturned.”

Now comfortable in his evolving bionic body, a 500th appearance might be more realistic than it seems.

“I’ll never play for another club, I’ve always said that. But I’ll be 90 by the time I get to 500, I’m falling apart quicker than they can rebuild me.”