Australia

Matthew Elliott

Born: September 28, 1971, Chelsea, Victoria

Matthew Elliott bio

Matthew Thomas Gray Elliott, also known as Matthew Elliott, is a former professional cricket player from Australia. Born on September 28, 1971, in Melbourne, Victoria, Elliott was a left-handed batsman who was known for his technical skills and elegant yet powerful batting style.

Elliott had an eventful career, with both highs and lows. He made his international debut for Australia in the 1996-1997 season. During his second Test match, he collided with Mark Waugh, resulting in a knee injury and forcing him to take time off. However, he made a strong comeback with two impressive centuries at Lord’s and Headingley, which showcased his ability as a batsman.

Throughout his career, Elliott often found himself on the sidelines due to injuries. Additionally, his naturally reserved personality seemed incompatible with the dressing-room culture, making it challenging for him to fit in with the team. Nonetheless, his skills and talent spoke for themselves, and he managed to secure a spot in the Australian team for various matches.

Elliott’s career reached its pinnacle in the 2003-2004 season when he had a phenomenal performance in the Pura Cup, accumulating a record-breaking 1381 runs. This achievement led to his inclusion among Australia’s 25 contracted players. However, when given an opportunity to play against Sri Lanka, Elliott struggled, managing only 1 and 0 runs. Consequently, he slipped down the selection pecking order, and his international Test career concluded with just 21 matches played.

Despite the setbacks, Elliott continued to excel in domestic cricket. He played for Victoria for 12 seasons, winning the Pura Cup on multiple occasions. As captain, he often led the team to victory, solidifying his role as a dependable batsman. He attributed his success during this period to improved relaxation techniques and enhanced knowledge of the game.

However, after 12 seasons with Victoria, Elliott began to lose motivation. In 2004, he fought a contentious battle to join South Australia as a player-coach, ultimately succeeding after appealing to a grievance tribunal. Unfortunately, his first season with the Redbacks was marred by a knee injury, which affected his performance. Despite this setback, he managed to demonstrate his prowess in limited-overs matches, scoring 465 runs at an average of 51.66 and being named the Ford Ranger Cup Player of the Year.

Elliott retired from Australian first-class cricket in February 2008. However, he continued his cricketing journey by joining the unofficial Indian Cricket League later that month. Although his international Test career may not have reached the heights he had hoped for, Matthew Elliott will be remembered as a technically proficient and elegant left-handed batsman who had the ability to deliver strong performances when given the opportunity.

Matthew Elliott career stats

Batting stats

Batting Matches Innings Nos Runs High score Ave BF SR 100s 50s 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 21 36 1 1172 199 33.48 2637 44.44 3 4 155 4 14 0
T20Is - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ODIs 1 1 0 1 1 1 6 16.66 0 0 0 0 0 0
FC 214 395 28 17251 203 47 - - 50 84 - - 230 0
List A 162 157 22 6211 156 46 - - 17 35 - - 61 0
T20s 11 11 1 303 52* 30.3 224 135.26 0 2 39 8 3 0

Bowling stats

Bowling Matches Innings Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10w
Tests 21 2 12 4 0 - - - 2 - 0 0 0
T20Is - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ODIs 1 - - - - - - - - - - - -
FC 214 - 1242 754 13 3/68 - 58 3.64 95.5 - 0 0
List A 162 - 92 92 0 - - - 6 - 0 0 0
T20s 11 - - - - - - - - - - - -

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