Matthew Elliott did not have a psyche designed for International cricket.
You could argue that the competitive sport of amateur table tennis would have troubled him.
He was the flower that grew on the empty mountain, not in a beautiful garden.
He was weird, he didn’t fit in, was quiet and intense and made his team mates nervous.
Batting wise he was a genius, but very rarely did we see that internationally.
International cricket is a mental test even more than it’s a physical test, and for whatever reason matty could never conquer it.
If you compare him purely as a batsmen to Mark Taylor or Justin Langer, he is simply twice as talented, but the game got to him, and they played to their maximum to make it.
If you have never seen Elliott in full flight you have missed something brilliant.
His cover drives and pull shots were as aesthetically pleasing as anyone before him.
For years I held on to a grotty old photo of Herb playing a cover drive to perfection, the photo was hypnotic.
I still remember a pull shot he played off Allan Donald one day, it never went more than 3 meters off the ground and it went for six.
Players of his class don’t come along very often, just a shame he never showed the world that.
You can read more of me tossing off on Matthew Elliott over here.
I never saw Elliot in full flight, so unfortunately I don’t share your enthusiasm. In fact, the only memories I will have of him is him scoring a million runs in the Pura Cup final and then his failure of a return in the Top End series.I just hope he decides to retire gracefully, instead of signing for the IPL or ICL or whatever.
I remember that knock againstEngland a few years ago. Gough bowled him on 199 (?). Top Knock. Great hooker and puller.
What did he do in a previous life to end up with a face like that?
I think it only happened twice, but I have the feeling that every time I went to see Queensland v Victoria at the Gabba, Elliott and Hodge would make centuries. Elliott was good, and if it hadn’t been for the collision etc. I think his Test average would have got up above 40. But with Hayden and Langer both much better, he wasn’t really needed for Australia.
DB, I’d argue he was a far superior batsmen to Langer, but Langer was a tougher guy.
Langer would kick my arse.And as I can take 90% of The England, that’s hard.
Any truth to the rumours he had serious troubles with the contradictory gender?
Tony, can you explain what contradictory gender is?
As much as it pains me to say so, he was better for a short time than the other Matty.The real Matt the Bat obviously wanted it more.
DID, I’m not even sure it comes down to who wanted it more, Hayden is a warrior, elliott is a flower. Flowers aren’t ever going to be long term test cricketers.
Speaking of flowers, persons of the contradictory gender like to receive flowers on Valentine’s day. Chocolates, too.They is sheilas.And I heard Matty Elliot had had trouble with ‘em.
Tony, if your talking about the rumour involving the players wives and a trip to the windies, i think it could be true. If your talking about matty being a cross dresser, i haven’t heard that one. Only heard that about Dean Laidley.
Heard something happened in Western Straya, too.
Never heard it, but nothing would surprise me.