Matthew Elliott
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Australia (Aus) |
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| Batting style | Left-handed batsman (LHB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Bowling type | Left arm medium (LM) | |
| Tests | ODIs | |
| Matches | 21 | 1 |
| Runs scored | 1172 | 1 |
| Batting average | 33.48 | 1.00 |
| 100s/50s | 3/4 | 0/0 |
| Top score | 199 | 1 |
| Overs bowled | 2 | 0 |
| Wickets | 0 | 0 |
| Bowling average | N/A | - |
| 5 wickets in innings | - | 0 |
| 10 wickets in match | - | n/a |
| Best bowling | 0/4 | - |
| Catches/stumpings | 14c | 0/0 |
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As of 2 May 2005 |
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Matthew Thomas Gray Elliott (born September 28, 1971 in Chelsea, Melbourne, Victoria) is an Australian cricketer.
Elliott is a left-handed opening batsman and safe fielder, usually in the slip cordon or gully. He made his debut for Victoria in the 1992-1993 season and soon established himself as one of the top opening batsmen in Australian domestic cricket.
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[edit] Test career
He was called up to the Australian national team in the 1996-1997 season, making his Test debut against the West Indies in November 1996. Unfortunately for Elliott, in just his second Test match he was injured in a mid-pitch collision with teammate Mark Waugh, resulting in the need for knee surgery.
Elliott returned for the 1997 Ashes series in England and scored two centuries, including a career-best 199. He also made his one-day international debut in 1997 on the back of his brilliant Test performances in the Texaco Cup, but scored 1, making it his only appearance in a limited overs international. Elliott was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year for 1998, although this wasn't enough for him to hold down a regular spot, and due to inconsistent performances after the Ashes series, he slipped out of the national team in 1999. Steve Waugh, in his autobiography, described Elliott as "technically gifted but temperamentally flawed" and "prone to serious bouts of self-doubt and a tendency to let injuries rule his thought processes." He stated that "[Elliott] would have been a perfect candidate...[for] a sports psychologist." [1]
[edit] Career resurgence
He continued to perform at domestic level for Victoria and on the English county scene, and in the 2003-2004 season scored a remarkable 1381 runs in the Pura Cup, overtaking Graham Yallop's previous record (which was succeeded the very next year in 2004/05 by Michael Bevan). Rewarded with the Pura Cup Player of the Year Award and a new Cricket Australia contract, he was recalled to the national team for the first time in 5 years, albeit for one relatively unsuccessful Test against Sri Lanka where he batted at number 3 in place of Ricky Ponting (and not his usual opening spot) and scored just 0 and 1. This performance dented hopes of a resurgence in his international career greatly. In addition to this, he also had a below-par season in the subsequent 04/05 domestic season for Victoria, averaging in the mid-30s.
[edit] Move to South Australia
In April 2005 Elliott made a request to leave the Victorian team to join South Australia as player-coach; this was originally rejected by Cricket Victoria although Elliott appealed their decision. On May 5 a Cricket Australia grievance tribunal overturned Cricket Victoria's decision, freeing the way for Elliott to join South Australia.
In the 05/06 season Elliott struggled with injury and inconsistent form.
The 2006/7 Australian domestic season was equally disappointing, with just 193 runs at 13.8 from seven first class (Pura Cup) games. As a result he was axed from the South Australian state side. Curiously his form in the domestic one-day competition was much better with 465 runs at 51.6, highlighed by two centuries.
[edit] Current situation
Currently Elliott is generally considered to be out of contention for selection in the current Australian Test side. Despite his reputation, Elliott's most recent season for SA was below standard and not only is he well behind current opening batsmen Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer, but it is more likely the likes of Mike Hussey, Phil Jaques and even Chris Rogers are more worthy of selection. It is now very unlikely he will play Test cricket again. Matthew has just recently signed a short-term contract with Yorkshire CCC to take him back to the club for the start of the 2007 season.
[edit] Teams
[edit] International
[edit] Australian state
- Southern Redbacks (2005-present)
- Victorian Bushrangers (1992-2005)
[edit] English county
[edit] Career highlights
[edit] Tests
Test Debut: vs West Indies, Brisbane, 1996-1997
Latest Test: vs Sri Lanka, Darwin, 2004
[edit] One-day internationals
Only ODI: vs England, Lord's, 1997
- Elliott's best ODI batting score of 1 was made in this match
[edit] Notes
- ^ Waugh, Steve (2005). STEVE WAUGH: Out of my comfort zone - the autobiography. Victoria: Penguin Group (Australia), 418–419. ISBN 0-670-04198-X.
