Mike Watkinson (born 1 August 1961 in Westhoughton, Lancashire) is a former English cricketer who played four test matches and one One Day International in the mid-1990s. A right-handed batsman and right-arm bowler of either medium-pace or off-spin, he was instrumental in Lancashire County Cricket Club's successes in the 1990s, and is now the county's cricket manager.

He showed early promise as an all-round sportsman, excelling in both cricket and football, and achieving good standards in golf and basketball. He demonstrated that good hand, ball and eye co-ordination can be applied to many sports, and thus it is no surprise that he was able to make his living through sport.

Watkinson attended Westhoughton County Primary School, and Rivington and Blackrod High School. During this time he was a regular player at Westhoughton Cricket Club in the Bolton Cricket League, where he drew attention from Teddy Gerrard, a coach at the club. He played in local matches for the Astley Region Southern Explorers where his bowling skills developed. Under the expert tuition of coach Wayne Kerr, Watkinson developed an accurate style of bowling inswingers and leg breaks, using pitch rather than pace to take wickets.

From these beginnings, and following cricketin