Tim McMahon – The Dasher
Parramatta District Cricket Club | October 24, 2025
Tim McMahon was a product of the highly regarded Kings Langley junior club. The tall right-hander was a batsman with talent to burn. A knock-about-bloke who enjoyed a bet, a beer and either a cricket bat or racing form guide in his hand. Many observers felt that with a more disciplined focus, he would have ascended to first-class cricket – he did in fact play for the NSW 2nd eleven.
Either opening or in the middle-order he had the ability to tear bowling attacks apart, through the sheer power and aggression of his entertaining stroke play. A batsman with the ability to warrant a place in the Parramatta (Cumberland) teams of any era.
Tim probably arrived in NSW Premier Cricket a generation too early, at his peak he would have fitted right into the mould of batsmen that the NSW and Big Bash selectors favor in the current era. In full flow he was a treat to watch, fierce driving on both sides of the wicket teamed with ravishing pull shots and the strength to ‘clear the pickets, a crowd-pleaser.’
He first entered the Parramatta ranks via the traditional path of A.W. Green Shield and in his second season in this competition (1986/87) he compiled 254 runs @ 31.75 (H.S. – 84) and showed himself to be a batsman of definite promise.
Tim first made people sit up and take notice of his ability with a sparkling 102* in 5th Grade in 1986/87. But after that fine start, he stagnated a little, taking the next four seasons to fully embrace grade cricket. A punishing 130* in 4th grade in 1989/90 ultimately proved to be the trigger that propelled him into 2nd grade. Then over the next three seasons he dominated 2nd grade (1,304 runs @ 40.75 [H.S. – 145]) but couldn’t find his rhythm when given an opportunity in 1st grade and fluctuated between the top grades.
The long-awaited breakthrough came in 1993/94 when, with the encouragement of skipper Brett Williams, he finally unleashed his natural attacking game in 1st grade, and this positive approach to his batting resulted in a splendid 604 runs @ 40.25 (H.S. -106) and established Tim as a batting mainstay in Parramatta’s ‘march to a Belvidere Cup Grand Final’ showdown with the formidable Bankstown team.
From that point onwards McMahon forged a standing in Sydney, as one of NSW Premier Cricket’s foremost 1st grade batsmen. This rating was reinforced by his prolific outputs in 1997/98 (805 runs), 1998/99 (826 runs) and 1995/96 (619 runs). This level of performance saw him selected in the NSW 2nd Eleven in 1998/99. His career with Parramatta extended from 1986/87 to 2000/01, after which he transferred to the Northern Districts Club.
In All Grades with the Parramatta District Cricket Club, he scored 6,709 runs @ 30.63 (H.S. – 145). This included twelve centuries – 1st grade (7), 2nd grade (3) and 5th grade (1).
By Tom Wood – Parramatta District Cricket Club Historian
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