From the humble beginnings of scoring at his son’s junior cricket games to having the best seat in the house for some of cricket’s most iconic matches, Mick Harper has seen it all.
After last Saturday’s T20 International between Australia and India, the long-term state scorer officially hung up his pen and signed off on one final scoresheet.
Throughout his many years watching every ball and every umpire’s signal with a keen eye, Mick has witnessed more than his share of unforgettable moments.
He’s seen a young Shaun Tait and Megan Schutt begin the journeys that would carry them to the international stage, marvelled at a lethal Mitchell Starc spell, and watched Travis Head send the ball to every corner of Adelaide Oval.
The former South Australian police officer’s scoring career progressed alongside his son's playing journey, as they both moved through the grades together.
Over the summers, Mick has dedicated his time to scoring more than 200 Premier Cricket games, and when the opportunity arose, stepped up to cover over 140 domestic matches.
“I’ve always had an interest in numbers and was in the right spot at the right time,” said the Sturt Cricket Club life member.
“I got asked to score and I was obviously pretty neat and tidy, so people kept asking me back.”
After years of dedication to the role, he received the call-up of a lifetime, the chance to score on the international stage.
His international debut coincided with the inaugural day-night Test, as Australia hosted New Zealand at Adelaide Oval - a match that will forever hold a special place in his heart.
Since then, he has gone on to score 11 Tests and 41 international matches.
Over the years, he’s been awarded numerous accolades, including the 2013/14 Premier Cricket Volunteer of the Year Award and, one he is especially proud of, being the inaugural recipient of SACUSA’s Neil Dansie OAM Memorial Award in 2024.
Last season he was presented with his 500-game milestone medal, a remarkable achievement reflecting his consistency, dedication and longevity in the role.
More recently, he was named a scorer mentor in recognition of his commitment to training and developing scorers across South Australia.
“I’ve been trying to lift the profile of scorers so there is a little more recognition as part of the match officials. We’ve developed important training sessions and packages for up-and-coming scorers. I personally feel we lead the way in Australia.”
Mick's outstanding service and extraordinary contribution to the game as a state scorer will be formally acknowledged at this season’s Bradman Rolton Awards night.
The honour is well and truly deserved for a man who would like to be remembered simply as a “likeable bloke.”