Matt Chasemore - the harder you work the luckier you will be
St Kilda Cricket Club | February 08, 2023
Matt Chasemore joined St Kilda for the 2013/14 season and made a tremendous contribution in his 2 seasons with the Saints.
He scored 1,207 first grade runs for the club at an average of 44.70 including 5 centuries and 5 fifties. With the ball he took 43 wickets at an incredible 14.18.
Matt made his first grade debut in Victoria Premier Cricket in 2001/02 when playing for Dandenong.
In 15 seasons of first grade cricket with Dandenong, Frankston Peninsula and St Kilda, Matt scored 7,377 first grade runs at 32.93 including 12 centuries and 37 fifties. He took 219 wickets at 19.77 and took 5 wickets or more in an innings on 7 occasions. He also took 107 catches.
Let’s find out more about Matt’s journey
What year you were born?
1982
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I can’t remember exactly the game or results but I know I was convinced to start playing by a mate and his dad, Mark and Lindsay Woodall
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
My junior cricket was at Cranbourne Cricket Club. At the age of 15 I arrived at Premier Cricket Club, Dandenong. At this time, I was told to take up another sport as I was no good. I trained every day for the next 15 years to prove that theory wrong, and I’m pretty happy I chose to do that as I’m wrapped with the career I have had.
2nd XI Cricket for Victoria, Premium Cricket for 20 years. (Dandenong CC for 12yrs, Frankston Peninsula CC for 6 years & 2 years for St. Kilda CC). After retiring from Premier Cricket, I returned to my home Club Cranbourne CC where I was there for a total of 6 years for both Junior and Senior cricket, Berwick CC 4 years, & Bamawm Lockington for T20s. I’ve also played in the UK & Darwin
All have been great to be a part of and thank them for everything they have done for my game.
Matt bowling for Victoria 2ndXI v Western Australia
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
Started in the 4th XI at Dandenong CC in about 1996/97
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
I was about 19 from memory. It was against Fitzroy Doncaster and I made 4. Was heavily sledged and remember thinking that I wasn’t ready for this just yet.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Early on I would say I was a defensive opening bat. Faced a lot of balls but didn’t have any shots.
As time went on and I spent more time with coaches I would say I become a consistent top order bat who could change the speed of my game when I needed it.
Keeper to begin with but developed medium paced bowling to snare around 300 wickets.
What were your strengths as a player?
My ability to compete for longer periods of time than my opposition. Never got bored of a good scrap.
Matt batting for Victoria 2ndXI against Western Australia
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
185 not out for Norley Hall in the UK in a Lancashire League cup final.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
6 for 12 for Frankston Peninsula 1st XI.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Shane Harwood - not only a good bowler but was happy to hit you with as many short balls as he could.
Dirk Nannes - again very fast but left arm bowler. The ball just seemed to follow me as I backed away towards the square leg umpire.
Darren Groves - nearly the best bowler I’ve seen. Nick’s everyone off for fun the big fella!
Shane Harwood
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
I don’t really have three as I was always told that spinners are there to get you from 40 to 100 really quick.
Jon Holland and Michael Beer right up there
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Graeme Rummans - probably the best I’ve played against. Seemed to have so much time and controlled the game with ease.
Jimmy Adams (West Indies). Played against him in the UK and he got plenty of runs, was great to watch.
Shaun Marsh. Made 160 in a 2nd XI game in Perth, was unbelievable to witness.
Graeme Rummans
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
I’m going to say Nick Jewell. His innings in the grand final when Frankston played Dandenong CC, with three test bowlers playing was incredible. The mental toughness to not only get through that but to show his teammates what it takes to get that good was inspirational. I took a lot from that innings.
Was there any bowler in particular who whatever reason always you to cause you a few problems?
Not really. I have tried to adjust to who it is that’s bowling to me so I think that’s been good in not letting anyone continually get the better of me.
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to in grade cricket and you really had to knuckle down to survive?
I never thought I was out of my depth. I did think the game was quicker and had less errors. I think the amount of hard training I had done helped with not feeling it was too much
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Nathan Pilon is the best keeper in the world. I also was fortunate enough to play with Damon Rowan from St Kilda and John O’Hare at Dandenong who were also both unbelievable gloveman.
Nathan Pilon
Who are the three players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Warren Ayers, Nick Jewell & Graeme Rummans.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Nick Jewell was the best skipper. He seemed to know what was going to happen before it did and he was able to get the best out of his players. Lead from the front. He also wasn’t afraid to make a tough call which doesn’t seem to happen much anymore.
Nick Jewell
Who has been your funniest team mate?
John O’Hare and Jayde Herrick- both fairly weird in how they see life.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
This didn’t happen on the field but in the change rooms. Johnny O’Hare who was a larger man in the stomach region lying naked on the floor singing Beyonce; I DON’T THINK YOUR READY FOR THIS JELLY whilst rubbing his belly.
Who was your childhood hero?
Didn’t really have a sport related one. Probably my dad he is a legend. Don’t tell him that!
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Michael Jordan
Valentino Rossi
Brian Lara
Valentino Rossi
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Mark Waugh
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Junction oval
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Carlton CC. I scored more hundreds against them than any other team. They had a great line up but I think the bowlers just suited how I played. Not a bad wicket to bat on to be fair.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Seeing my young fella get his first fifty.
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
Reverse outright in grand final for Cranbourne against Springvale.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Nick Jewell, Brodie Emmet, Jarrod Dowling - all very different reasons that don’t need to be mentioned.
What are your hobbies?
I still play cricket but other than that mainly driving kids to their sports. I do run a cricket academy which at the moment is a hobby also.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
The harder you work the luckier you will be
What is your occupation?
Self employed - I install hard flooring and I run the Peninsula Cricket Academy along with Jayde Herrick
If you were running Cricket Victoria what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
I would make sure we have Premier cricket coaches that are coaching clubs with the player’s development at the fore front as opposed to just doing it as a job.
Try to match the format to the state format so players can be selected in either 4 day, 1 day or T20 cricket whilst in form in those game styles.
