Austin Matthews

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = ENG
name = Austin Matthews
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm fast-medium
tests = 1
test runs = 2
test bat avg = -
test 100s/50s = -/-
test top score = 2*
test balls = 180
test wickets = 2
test bowl avg = 32.50
test 5s = -
test 10s = -
test best bowling = 1/13
test catches/stumpings = 1/-
FCs = 281
FC runs = 5919
FC bat avg = 15.70
FC 100s/50s = 2/14
FC top score = 116
FC balls = 47983
FC wickets = 816
FC bowl avg = 23.40
FC 5s = 45
FC 10s = 6
FC best bowling = 7/57
FC catches/stumpings = 124/-
debut date = 14 August
debut year = 1937
last date = 14 August
last year = 1937
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/16942.html

Austin David George Matthews (born May 3, 1904 in Penarth, Glamorgan, died on July 29, 1977 in Penrhyn Bay, Llandudno, Caernarvonshire, Wales) was a cricketer who played for Northamptonshire, Glamorgan and England.

Matthews was a right-arm fast-medium bowler and a useful lower order batsman who played for 10 seasons for one of the weakest counties, Northamptonshire, from 1927 without ever suggesting that there was any great depth to his talent. The 567 wickets he took in those 10 seasons cost an average of 26.45 runs each, and though he scored a couple of centuries, his batting was not out of the ordinary.

Then in 1937, he left full-time first-class cricket to become coach at Stowe School and, in the holidays, turned out for Glamorgan. In his third match for the county, he took 14 Sussex wickets for 132 runs on a batsman's pitch at Hastings, and two weeks later he was a controversial choice for the third Test match against New Zealand at The Oval, making his debut alongside Denis Compton. He took two wickets (Walter Hadlee in both innings), made two runs and took one catch, and was never picked again.

He continued in county cricket intermittently until 1947, taking 225 wickets for Glamorgan at the low average of 15.88 runs per wicket, and also coached Cambridge University.

An all-round sportsman, Matthews played Rugby Union for Penarth RFC and later Northampton. In 1929, during his time with Penarth, Austin was a final Welsh rugby trialist and his cap is held in the Penarth Club's archive. Matthews captained Northampton RFC between 1935 - 1937. His Northampton cap is also lodged with the Penarth RFC archive together with the cap gained by Austin's father, Frederick, as a final Welsh rugby trialist in 1896. Austin also represented Wales at table tennis.