Mason Clarke, who’s just been contracted to the Otago Volts for the upcoming season, says he flew to Australia the other day and put down his occupation as ‘student’ — he’s doing a commerce degree at Otago Uni — before realising he could have written ‘professional cricketer’.
"It’s pretty crazy to think I can call it a job now."
For last year’s Wakatipu High head boy, though, the contract wasn’t unexpected.
Last summer he showed a lot of promise during five T20s and two 50-over games for the Volts — "it was amazing just to get the experience".
A fast bowler who bowls outswing at the top of the innings, he then bowls yorkers and other variations during the middle and final overs.
He estimates his top speed’s about 130kmh — "I definitely want to try and bowl as quick as I can, because it’s fun".
Mason says his present aim’s to get stronger and fitter, especially so he can tackle red ball cricket, too.
He’ll continue to base himself in Dunedin through summer, where he plays for the Albion club, and "regardless of [game time for Otago] I just want to try and learn and develop as much as I can, because it’s a great opportunity for like an 18-year-old to be surrounded by that sort of group".
A tail-end batsman, Mason says he’s trying not to be a bunny, "but when you go up and face 140kmh [bowling] it’s hard not to look like one".
"I’m definitely right now, at domestic level, more like a bowler that can sort of hold a bat, but I want to in the next few years try and become an all-rounder."
Auckland-born Mason first played cricket in Melbourne, where he lived between 5 and 10, but has since called Queenstown home, and he credits a lot of locals for supporting his career.
"I guess I’m probably most proud to show there’s a path to professional cricket from Queenstown, because it is a lot harder."
Meanwhile, he’s hoping to be reselected for the New Zealand under-19s who’ll play in the U19 Cricket World Cup in Zimbabwe in January — he first played for them at the last U19 world cup in South Africa early last year.
Local batter Hugo Bogue’s also in contention for the team.
