MEMBERS of St Cross Symondians cricket Club were devastated to hear of the tragic death of their overseas player, Mark Parker, who was killed in the Bali bomb atrocity at the weekend.

The 27-year-old New Zealander was returning to Wellington after another highly successful season, his third with the Winchester club, and had decided to make a short stopover in Bali when he was caught up in the horrific events on the island.

He was due to play for his club side Onslow this winter and was hopeful of breaking into the Wellington State side before returning to play for St Cross next year.

Mark topped the ECB Southern League batting averages for all three divisions this summer, scoring 757 runs for an astonishing average of 84.11.

St Cross chairman, Andy Sharp, said this week: "Mark was extremely popular with everyone at St Cross and treated everyone the same, regardless of their age and ability.

"In many ways he was a typical Kiwi. Off the field he was quiet, unassuming and very modest. He was keen to praise others rather than talk about his own achievements.

"He rarely if ever spoke about his own and his family's strong sporting links and few knew about his cricketing pedigree. His father, Murray and uncle, John, both played Test cricket for New Zealand."

St Cross 1st XI. captain Matt Perry-Lewis commented: "On the field, Mark was a different person, very determined, competitive and professional.

"But he always played the game in the right spirit and after the match was often the first to shake hands and to praise a good performance from an opponent.

"Despite his own personal success, 'Parks' was a great team player, leading and encouraging from the front both in words and actions."

A further tribute came from Easton & Martyr Worthy all-rounder Shaun Green, who had often played against Mark.

"He was a good competitor and the sort of chap who didn't believe in luck," he said.

"He had the utmost respect from everyone who played with or against him."

Andy Sharp summed up everyone's feelings this week when he said: "Mark was quite simply one of the nicest and most genuine people you could wish to meet and those of us who had the pleasure of knowing him are undoubtedly better people for it.

"Our deepest sympathies go out to his family in New Zealand."