Matthews Australia test hero

Press, 28 December 1985, Page 44

Matthews Australia test hero

NZPA-AAP Melbourne The Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, is in grave danger of having his folk hero image taken over by an emerging man of the people — yesterday’s test century hero, one Gregory Richard John Matthews. Matthews was No. 1 citizen for 18,000 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday when he hit his second test “ton” against India.

And true to the dictum of thanking his supporters he raised his bat to the crowded outer stands before turning to acknowledge the members pavilion occupants and kissing his trusty oat. “Those people in Bay 13 at the M.C.G. mean a lot to me— they gave me encouragement, there is always positive support from them, they are special people,” said Matthews at stumps last evening. Matthews came to the wicket when Australia was in a parlous position just before 3 p.m. on Thursday. He walked off the M.C.G. head high at midday yesterday with an unbeaten 100 in 192 minutes with nine boundaries and two sixes. Australia finished with 262 and last night at stumps India was 187 for three. And Matthews showed that he has the touch of the common man too just like the Prime Minister — his eyes can fill with emotion with the best of them.

“I don’t cry very often in my life — I didn’t wash my eyes today but I felt full physically, it was more than ecstasy,” said Matthews. “I would have given outrageous odds against doing it when I started — but I did it.” Matthews said it was the best innings of his first class career, and he made a bold

prediction for the third day today with India just 75 runs behind. “We can lead on the first innings even yet” Once the prediction could be called a rash statement by a brash young man, but the 26-year-old New South Welshman who describes himself in occupational status as “cricketer” has increased in stature. Extroverted and at times a person who has raised the ire of followers of the game he has become in recent times a hero needed on the Australian cricketing front line. AUSTRALIA First innings W. Phillips b Yadav. . . 7 D. Boom lbw b Shastri . 14 G. Marsh c Shivaramakrishnan b Yadav. .. 30 A. Border c and b Shivarainakrishnan ... 11 D. Hookes b Shastri .. . 42 S. Waugh c Kapil Dev b Shivaramakrishnan. . 13 G. Matthews not out. . . 100 R. Bright b Shastri. .. . 28 C. McDermott c Kapil Dev b Shastri. ... .. .. 1 B. Reid c Srikkanth b Kapil Dev. 1 D. Gilbert c Kirmani b Yadav . . . 4 Extras (b 5, lb 6). .. . 11 Total 262 Fall: 22, 26, 41, 90, 109, 127, 193, 195, 216, 262. Bowling.— Kapil Dev 23, 6, 38, 1; R. Binny 3,0, 11, 0; R. Shastri 37, 13, 87, 4; S. Yadav 27.5, 10, 64, $ L. Shivaramakrishnan 13, 2, 51, 2. INDIA First innings S. Gavaskar b Gilbert. . 6 K. Srikkanth lbw b Gilbert 86 M. Amarnath c Phillips b Reid 45 D. Vengsarkar not out. . 38 M. Azharuddin not out. . 5 Extras (1 b, 2 lb, 4 nb) 7 Total (for 3 wkts) 187 Fait 15, 116, 172. Bowling.— C. McDermott 8, 3, 33, 0; D. Gilbert 7,1, 32, 2; B. Reid 17, 2, 57, 1 (4 nb); R. Bright 10,1, 34, 0; G. Matthews 14, 4, 28, 0.