Matthew Elliott – an odd genius

Posted by jrod on February 11, 2008 under SA, VIC | Be the First to Comment

I was at his Matthew Elliot’s breakthrough innings at the G.

He absolutely slaughtered the warriors in that game, and my old man mentions that innings in the same hushed tones he uses for Sobers double century.

He couldn’t have been much older than 21.

Over the years I must have seen Elliot make at least 10 centuries, and the same question seemed to come back to me over and over again, how can a player this good not make it internationally.

Elliott had a weird career. He had seasons where he was the best opener in the world, and others where he found odd ways to go out, including once getting stumped off funky miller by a silly mid off fielder.

His international career was stopped by two non form related incidents, one involving his famous crash with Mark Waugh and subsequent knee injury, and the other one that involved him breaking the players code of what happens on tour never ever ever ever makes it back to the players wives.

The international highlights for me, was the way he pulled Allan Donald in his tour of South Africa, where he was given the number 3 role. He clearly didn’t like it, but that one innings of 80odd, including perhaps the best pull shot I have ever seen, was worth it for me.

His Ashes tour, sure he was only playing an England A side in those days, but the hundred at Lords and the 199 at Leeds were awesome. His other ton was against the Kiwis and was the ugliest innings ever, it was very rare he would score runs ugly, I think he got dropped a bunch of times and then McMillan got him.

The best thing about those innings was he wasn’t even in top form, because when he was on best form, it was impossible to get him out.

Years earlier when he was at the cricket academy Dennis Lillee was advising all the bowlers of each batsmen’s weakness. When they asked him about Elliott, he said he couldn’t find one.

As a batsmen he was truly amazing, but a man as quiet and sensitive as he was not made for a team sport.

From early on there were always whispers he didn’t fit in, he was an intense guy, his team mates didn’t get him, and that his sense of humour was odd at best.

If batting was turned into an individual pursuit sport, he would have been one of the best of all time.

My favourite innings, and perhaps the best innings I have ever seen was a hundred he made against NSWales. The bowling list included Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken and Stuey MacGill and he treated them like they were one legged lepers with two left arms.

Behind me that day was former Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns, and I spent all day reminding him that Elliott was a superstar batting.

He played a test against Bangladesh after that, and then even Victoria didn’t want him and he was shipped off to the wasteland known as South Australian cricket.

From the age of 12 to 16 he was my favourite cricketer, he took over from Dean Jones and was replaced by Ian Harvey.

I have almost forgiven him for playing for the Redbacks, but I would like to thank him for some of the best innings I will ever see.

Out Harwood, In Nannes

Posted by jrod on November 13, 2007 under VIC | Be the First to Comment

Shane Harwood has broken down again.

If he was a horse, someone would have put a screen up around him by now.

Its hard not to like the man, he is tough, fast, and bowls reverse swing.

And didn’t come through the namby pamby representative teams. He played country cricket, until he moved down to town to take his cricket seriously.

I’ve never met a Victorian cricket fan that has bad things to say about him.

They don’t build guys like Harwood very often, offcourse if they build someone like him, perhaps they’d make a model that needed less repairs.

Harwood has always reminded me of a boxer who spent all his time beating up guys in the car park, before someone threw some gloves on him.

The bushrangers seem to breed fast bowlers who are close to 30. I can’t remember the last time a young Victorian bowler came through and played more than a handful of games before disappearing.

The 30 year olds, Lewis and Harwood, especially have been damn good to Victoria. Winning us more games than anyone other than Matthew Elliott in the last ten years.

The latest in this line seems to be Dirk Nannes.

I must admit, before I ever saw him bowl I liked him. It’s the name, Dirk, Nannes, say it with me, DIRK, NANNES.

Best name ever.

Then I saw him bowl, and I liked him even more.

I like left arm quick bowlers, not left arm swing so much, but left arms quicks who bowl aggressively.

Nannes bowls with his heart, you can see it in every delivery.

Nannes is clearly not that best bowler in Victoria, but he does try harder than most, and he is a handful to play on his day.

You can’t imagine him ever not fighting for a wicket.

Harwood out, Nannes in. Warrior for warrior.

Hello everyone, my name is Uncle J rod, and I am a bushrangers fan

Posted by jrod on October 31, 2007 under VIC | 6 Comments to Read

As cricket with balls is an international cricket blog I did not want to inundate it with tragic writings of my other life as a fan of the Victorian bushrangers.

I have been in love with the bushrangers since I went to my first game against NSW at the G. It started with Mike Whitney (the host of who dares wins) slipping over as he bowled the first nut.

The only other thing I can remember from that day is Simon O’Donnell trying to hook and getting caught on the fence.

I have seen Victoria win one day titles and a four day title.

I saw Matthew Elliott man handle Stuart’s (Clark and Macgill) in the best hundred I have ever seen with my own eyes.

I was on the ground when the great Chuck Berry announced his retirement.

I have seen Justin Langer threaten a Victorian with a beating(s).

I have seen Glenn McGrath stick his finger up at the crowd.

My 21st birthday present was a signed Ian Harvey shirt.

And I bantered with David Hookes the day he left us.

I am a Victorian supporter.