Matthew David Fisher, commonly known as Matt Fisher, is an English cricketer who has shown great potential as a fast bowler. Born on October 9, 1997, in Yorkshire, England, Fisher made his mark in the cricketing world at a young age.
Fisher’s journey to becoming a professional cricketer began in June 2013 when, at the age of just 15 years and 212 days, he became the youngest post-war county cricketer in a 40-over match against Leicestershire. Impressed by his talent, he was included in the England Under-19 squad for a triangular series against Bangladesh and Pakistan later that year, still at the tender age of 15.
In 2015, Fisher made his Championship debut for Yorkshire, becoming the team’s sixth-youngest debutant at the age of 17 years and 161 days. Despite his young age, he showcased his skills and became a regular in the T20 Blast matches as well. In his debut T20 match, Fisher took an impressive 5 for 22 against Derbyshire, becoming the third Yorkshire bowler to achieve such a feat in a T20 match.
However, Fisher’s progress was hindered by a series of injuries. Throughout his career, he has faced hamstring problems, a side strain, a back stress injury, a broken thumb, and a dislocated shoulder. These setbacks limited his playing time and slowed down his development. Despite the obstacles, Fisher’s talent remained undeniable. In 2019, he averaged 26.18 for wickets in first-class matches, and in the following year, he improved even further with an average of 18.00.
Despite his injury woes, Fisher continued to impress the selectors. His performances in the 2021 season earned him a spot in the England Lions tour to Australia, where he emerged as the standout bowler. This led to his call-up to the Test squad for the away series against West Indies in early 2022. Although his debut was a last-minute decision due to a teammate falling ill, Fisher made an immediate impact by taking a wicket with his second ball. Unfortunately, another injury, a stress fracture, halted his progress.
Following a lengthy layoff, Fisher made a strong comeback, demonstrating his resilience and determination. In February 2023, he took a five-wicket haul for England Lions in Sri Lanka, reaffirming his potential as a bowler.
Off the field, Fisher has also dealt with the challenge of being hard of hearing. Despite this, he perseveres and continues to make strides in his cricketing career.
Matthew David Fisher is an English cricketer who has shown immense promise as a fast bowler. Though his progress has been hampered by injuries, Fisher’s talent and dedication have earned him recognition at both the county and national levels. With his strong performances and unwavering determination, it is clear that Fisher has the potential to become a formidable force in English cricket.