Gregory Richard John Matthews (born 15 December 1959) is a New South Wales and Australian former cricket all rounder (off-spin bowler and left-handed batsman). He was popular with fans as "a tough, useful, determined little cricketer; a steady, flat, off-spin bowler; a staunch, correct left-hand bat; and a brilliant fielder.... also a cocky, slightly zany character."Martin-Jenkins, Christopher (1987). Cricket Characters. Stanley Paul, cited by Abhishek Mukherjee in Greg Matthews: Eccentric, gritty, canny, and Tied Test star, 15 Dec 2015 https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/greg-matthews-eccentric-gritty-canny-and-tied-test-star-367192
When Australian cricket was in the doldrums in the 1980s "his dashing batsmanship and growing ability as a spin bowler suddenly elevated Matthews to a position of a national hero".p28, Garry Linnell, Benson and Hedges Tests Series Official Book 1986–87 The Clashes for the Ashes, Playbill Sport Publication, 1986 He made centuries in times of crisis against New Zealand and India in 1985–86, took ten wickets in the Tied Test at Madras and batted well against England in 1986–87.
Thereafter his career declined as the "effervescent and unorthodox" Matthews did not fit in with the rest of the Australian Test team. As Australia rose to dominance in the 1990s Matthews proved to be "not good enough in either of the game's main departments to make a lasting impact as a Test all-rounder"p52, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Cricket Characters, Stanley Paul and Co Ltd, 1987 and despite a century against England in 1990–91 he played only irregularly and was finally dropped in 1993. He continued to play with success for New South Wales until he retired in 1997.
Early life
During his youth Matthews attended Ermington Public SchoolAnna (class 4S), Ermington Public School History , Ermington Public School Website (accessed 19 June 2006) and played for the Rydalmere Cricket Club, where he won the Under 11s Northern Districts Cricket Association Cricketer of the Year Award in 1970–71 and 1971–72.Wrens History , Rydalmere Cricket Club (accessed 19 June 2006) Coach Gordon Nolan was crucial to his early development.
Prior to his cricket career taking off, Matthews played Colts (under 20s) Rugby for the Eastwood Rugby Club and was a pro for the Cumbrian side Whitehaven Cricket Club for three seasons, starring in the club's 1981 league championship victory. At the conclusion of a successful season for Eastwood there was speculation that cricket may be put aside for Rugby, but he opted to play cricket.
1982/83: State Selection Matthews made his first-class debut over the 1982–83 summer. Scoring 123 and taking 3–48 for the state colts against Queensland saw him selected in the New South Wales side to play Western Australia in November 1982, replacing John Dyson, who was on test duty.
He took 3–41 for NSW in a day-night game against a touring New Zealand side.
Some enterprising runs from Matthews in a game against Queensland helped NSW get in the Sheffield Shield final. Matthews played in the final, won by NSW—their first Sheffield Shield in 17 years.
He spent the 1983 winter playing club cricket in England.
1983/84: National Selection Matthews was made 12th man for NSW's first game of the 1983–84 season—a delayed McDonald's Cup one day final. However, poor bowling by Murray Bennett in that game saw Matthews take Bennett's place.
He took three wickets in a shield game against WA, then scored 86 with 13 boundaries against the touring Pakistan side. He injured his hand while fielding in a game against Victoria. However, Matthews was then picked to play in the Australian team against Pakistan. He was chosen along with state teammate Murray Bennett.
Matthews had recently applied to go on the dole but was ruled out on a technicality when it was discovered that he was playing in a McDonald's Cup match that week. "I don't care what money I get, man", Matthews said. "It's the buzz of playing for Australia that's got me. I'm not worried about how much they pay ... I'd do it all for nothing just to wear that green cap." However, there was some sad news for Matthews. "My old coach from the Rydalmere junior days, Gordon Nolan, is dead and I owe so much to him that I wish I could have contacted him this morning as both our dreams came true."
Matthews was also picked to play in the Prime Ministers XI.
Early Test Career
Early in his cricketing career Matthews was regarded "as a bowler who fielded energetically and could bat a bit"p176, Allan Border, An Autobiography, Meuthen Australia pty Ltd, 1986 and a "complete extrovert, dressing to shock".p40, Steve Waugh, Out of My Comfort Zone, Michel Joseph, 2006 He was usually referred to as Greg, but his teammates nicknamed him 'Mo', "short for 'misère', which he always called when we played five hundred". Matthews enjoyed clubbing and ignored the midnight curfew imposed by New South Wales fast bowler Geoff Lawson as "these were his socialising hours and the time he came to life",p57, Steve Waugh Out of My Comfort Zone, Michel Joseph, 2006 and his mantra was "'live each day as if it's your last'".p57, Steve Waugh, Out of My Comfort Zone, Michel Joseph, 2006
Matthews took 2/95 and 2/48 in his first test match, running out Zaheer Abbas in the first innings and bowling him in the second. With the bat he made 75, joining Graham Yallop (268) on 354/7 and adding 185 together for the eighth wicket.
Australian captain Kim Hughes said he "thought that Matthews's innings was a remarkable performance as he is fiercely competitive which is typically Australian. His batting was great and his overall performance was outstanding." However, there was controversy when Matthews was dismissed; he was given out lbw by umpire Tony Crafter and when he walked off he indicated that he thought the ball had come off his bat. (Matthews later apologised to the umpire for the very public display of dissent.)
The Test was drawn and Matthews was kept for the Fifth Test, preferred to Murray Bennett as the spinner. He was Greg Chappell's batting partner when he was dismissed for 182 in his final Test innings. Chappell later said Matthews was the strangest cricketer he ever played with. "He came from a different background, spoke a different language, a surfie's language", recalled Chappell. "'Bro', 'cool' being a major part of his language. He didn't meet the stereotype of what an Australian cricketer looked like, spoke like, sounded like. And yet he had a love of the game that was as strong as anyone I ever played with or against."
Matthews' performance in the tests impressed captain Kim Hughes. "He's very competitive, wants to bowl and bat", Hughes said. "If we had 12 players with the same approach it would be great."
Matthews was picked to play in Australia's one day team for the World Series Cricket competition that summer and was praised for his fielding, but failed to perform with the bat and ball and was dropped after two games.
Matthews responded with a good performance against Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield.
1983/84 Tour of West Indies Matthews was selected as one of two spinners on the 1983–84 tour to the West Indies.
He played in two early tour games but was out-bowled by the other spinner Tom Hogan who was preferred in the first four tests.
Matthews bowled well against Barbados and scored 54 against Windward Islands as an opener.
Australia lost the third and fourth tests. Matthews was picked in the fifth test.
He was a makeshift opener in the second innings as Steve Smith was injured. Kim Hughes seemed reluctant to use Matthews as a bowler in a game which Australia lost.
Matthews was omitted from the one day squad to tour India in 1984 and he was not offered a contract from the ACB for the following summer.
1984/85 Summer Matthews was unable to force his way back into a test team for the first three tests against the West Indies. But 88 against Queensland helped see him selected in the side for the 4th test.
Matthews dismissed Viv Richards (208) and Clive Lloyd (91) with his 2/67 in a draw that ended their 11 match winning streak.
He was not one of the three spinners chosen for the Fifth Test on his home ground at Sydney where Australia won by an innings.
However, Matthews finished the summer strongly in the Sheffield Shield. He scored 87 and took 5–32 against Queensland, then scored his maiden century, 103 against Victoria. When asked about a possible return to the Australian side, Matthews said, "I think as little as possible about it. I used to lie awake thinking about it a lot but I don't want the disappointment of not going and besides, NSW has a lot to do."
Matthews was told he was recalled to the Australian side to tour Sharjah for a one-day tournament, then took part in the Sheffield Shield final, where NSW beat Qld by one wicket. He capped off the season with news he had been picked in the squad to tour England for the 1985 Ashes. "I just didn't think I would make it", said a delighted Matthews.
1985 Sharjah Tour Matthews toured Sharjah with the Australian one day team.
1985 Ashes Matthews then went to England in 1985, where he proved popular in the county matches. Australia seemed determined to play an all rounder and Matthews was in competition with Simon O'Donnell.
In the One Day Internationals Matthews batted at number eight and hit the winning runs at Old Trafford (22 not out) and Lord's (29 not out) as Australia won the Texaco Trophy 2–1.
In the Third Test at Trent Bridge he mixed with the crowd and read a newspaper in the stands; "Matthews of the petit-punk hair and puppet movements...has a happy knack of winding up crowds".p61, Alan Ross/ Patrick Eagar, An Australian Summer, The Kingswood Press, 1985,
Matthews produced some solid batting performances in the county games. He was selected in the Fourth Test because Graeme Wood was injured and again volunteered to open the innings,pp32-33, Rod Nicolson, Benson and Hedges Tests Series Official Book 1986–87 The Clashes for the Ashes, Playbill Sport Publication, 1986 but also ran out Allan Lamb from extra cover.p113, Michael Milford, Daily Telegraph Cricket Year Book 86, Telegraph Publications, 1985
At the end of the tour Matthews had now played in five Test matches, but had only made 139 runs (19.85) and taken 7 wickets (45.28) and was far from establishing his place in the Australia team.
Allan Border said "Greg never really came on as much as we expected. But he's still young and has time on his side."
Breakthrough as International Cricketer: Australia vs New Zealand 1985–86
Greg Matthews joined me at the wicket to start an innings which was to 'make' him as a Test cricketer...I think we had all regarded him as a bowler who fielded energetically and could bat a bit. We'd misjudged him, and that century put the true all-rounder stamp on him. Allan Border
Matthews started the 1985–86 summer well with 184 against Tasmania. He then took 5–22 against Victoria.
"I'm a little older now, I'm more hungry for success and have a little more experience on my side in how I conduct myself", he said.
Matthews was picked to play the First Test against New Zealand at the Woolloongabba. The selection choice came down to Matthews and Simon O'Donnell—Matthews was picked, with O'Donnell 12th man.
This test saw Australia lose their third Test in a row by an innings as Richard Hadlee took 15/123. Matthews was Australian's best bowler (3/110) and joined the Australian captain Allan Border at 67/5 in the second innings with 307 runs required to make New Zealand bat again. He made his first Test century—115 off 229 balls with 10 fours and a six—and most of the 197 runs added with Border (152), a record sixth wicket stand for Australia against New Zealand.p57, Michael Milford, Daily Telegraph Cricket Year Book 87, Telegraph Publications, 1986