Matthew Bradley - Sutherland District Cricket Club Cap No 172 and Life Member

Sutherland District Cricket Club | February 04, 2024

On 12 July 2015 at the Sutherland District Cricket Club Annual General meeting for the 2014-15 season Matthew Bradley was nominated for Life Membership of the club.

Here is Matthew Bradley Nomination for Life Membership as presented by Mathew Duff.

 

NOMINATION OF MATTHEW BRADLEY FOR LIFE MEMBERSHIP

Matthew Bradley joined Sutherland in 1991-92, when he played five matches in AW Green Shield. The following season, he was captain of the AW Green Shield team that won the premiership. He also played a full season of grade cricket, split between 4th and 5th Grades, scoring 558 runs. Combined with his 320 runs in AW Green Shield, his overall season aggregate was 878 runs - at the time, the fourth highest in the Club's history. He moved quickly through the grades, scoring his first century for the Club in 3rds in 1993-94 and finishing the season in 2nds, while also playing Poidevin-Gray Shield. In 1994-95, he scored his first century in 2nds and made his 1st Grade debut on 4th February 1995 - player #172.

In the Club's breakthrough season in 1995-96, Matthew played part of the season in 1st Grade before finishing the season as a member of the 2nd Grade premiership team. The following season, he bounced back with 544 runs at 68.0 in winning his second premiership in 2nds, whilst also scoring 170 runs in 1sts, 166 in L/0 and 165 in P-Gs - a total of 997 runs. This included a century in the L/0 semi-final, two in 2nds and one in P-Gs. In 1997-98, he was a member of our second 1st Grade premiership team, scoring 612 runs.

On 9th October 1999, Matthew scored the then club record score of212 not out in 1st Grade, breaking the Club's 1st Grade record score of 168 that had been set by Norm O'Neill in the Club's first match in 1965. It was also at the time the Club's highest score in any grade. He continued to be a prominent member of the 1st Grade team and played in the premiership 1st Grade Limited Overs team in 2002-03. He had a season off in 2005-06 through work commitments and then returned to be a member of the premiership 3rd Grade team in 2006-

07. This resulted in a return to the top grade in 2007-08, followed by his best season in 1sts the following season when he scored 780 runs. His performances this season resulted in him winning the Ted Cotton Memorial Award for Players' Player of the Year. In 2009-10, he won his second 1st Grade Limited Overs premiership and played in the 1st Grade final when we were defeated by St.George. He announced his retirement after the final, but made two cameo appearances the following season to help out when we were short - scoring centuries both times in 3rds and 5ths.

In all grades for the Club, Matthew played 341 matches (the fifth most for the Club) and scored 10723 runs (third highest career aggregate) at an average of 30.7 including 17 centuries. He also took 166 catches in all grades (second most for the Club). In 1st Grade, he played 205 matches (third most for the Club) and scored 6085 runs (fourth highest career aggregate) at an average of 27.4, with 8 centuries. He captained the Club in 41 matches, including 15 in 1st Grade. He played in 7 premiership teams and was part of the Club Championships in 1997-98 and 2001-02.

Matthew played for NSW Under 17s in 1993-94 and was selected in the Australian Development Squad at the end of the Australian Championships. In 1995-96, he played for NSW Under 19s and then Australia Under 19s (where his teammates included Brad Haddin and Chris Rogers, among others). He played for NSW Colts for three seasons, from 1995-96 to 1997-98.

When the lmparja Cup for indigenous players came into prominence in the early 2000s, Matthew played for NSW and was named as captain of the ATSIC Chairman's XI that played the Prime Minister's XI at the end of the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, top scoring on each occasion with 74* and 83. These performances led to him being selected for the Prime Minister's XI that played England in 2002-03 and India in 2003-04.

As a coach, Matthew had minor specialist roles in 2007-08 and 2008-09 and was then assistant club coach in 2010-11 and 2011-12. He coached the AW Green Shield team for four seasons from 2009-10 to 2012-13, making the finals each season and culminating in an appearance in the final in the last season. He also coached the Poidevin-Gray Shield team to premierships in 2011-12 and the season just finished, while the other season he was P-Gs coach, 2012-13, we lost in the quarter-final.

Matthew also served on the management committee for one year in 2007-08.

Matthew's contribution to Sutherland DCC over a period of 24 years as a player, captain, coach, and committeeman has been considerable. He is a most worthy candidate for life membership of the Club, and I am delighted to nominate him. He deserves your unanimous support.