Matt Hughston - focus on what you can change
Sutherland District Cricket Club | February 16, 2023
Matt Hughston made his first grade debut for Sutherland District Cricket Club on the 9 November 2002 to become the clubs first grade player number 199.
In 203 first grade games and 220 innings matt scored 6,523 runs at an average of 32.29 including 11 centuries and 31 half centuries. His highest score in first grade was 184.
As a Sutherland junior Matt started in 5th grade when he was 16 and across all grades he played 327 games and scored 10,540 runs.
Matt was Sutherland District Cricket Club first grade captain in 64 games and successful led the first grade team to a 5 wicket victory against Sydney University in the Final to be the 2009/10 NSW Premier Cricket Limited Overs Premiers.
Matt Hughston was awarded Life Membership at the Clubs Annual General meeting on 16 July 2017.
Let’s find out more about Matt’s journey in the game
What year you were born?
1983, Nov 6
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I can’t remember exactly but I remember kicking and screaming the whole way to the open day as my brother wanted to play and I didn’t. Then apparently I said to mum that I thought I am good at this game and she signed me up there and then.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I played my juniors for Caringbah Sports and then joined Sutherland DCC for my grade cricket. I was lucky enough to play a handful of NSW 2nd XI games and also spent a couple of years in England for the mighty Kirkburton CC in the Huddersflied League
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
I was 16 and it was 5th grade for the Sharks
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
I think it was in 2003 and it was in the local derby against St George. I hit the first three balls out of the middle and then nicked one off Brett Van Diensen I think.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Top order batsmen with a big front pad. Not the explosive type of opener we see these days I would say I was more a traditionalist (which is my way of saying slow)
Rolled out some very dirty offies and meds throughout the career and my first 1st grade wicket was Michael Clark from Wests…… sadly the wrong spelling
What were your strengths as a player?
I think my defence was key to surviving against the new ball. My main scoring area was through point and I still don’t think there is a better feeling than a well-timed on drive.
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
Highest score was 184 in a 1st grade quarter final against Sydney University for Sutherland.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
I only have 4 wickets to my name so my best figures would be 1 fa plenty – I was used mainly when we needed the opposition to score faster to bring on a declaration.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Trent Copeland – just pure skill, he constantly challenged my defence and there was never a bad ball bowled. He destroyed us in both 1st grade finals we played. He bowled long spells too which made the day incredibly hard as you were never into your innings
Josh Laylor – again so skillful, had good pace when he wanted to but then could bring a ball back that when he first released it you could have sworn it was going to miss the wicket.
Doug Bollinger, Mark Cameron and Scott Coyte. All just pure pace, probably the fastest I had faced and it was never fun.
Trent Copeland
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Steve O’Keefe – so much control, I don’t think in all of the games I have played against SOK did I even get one off the square
Anthony Clark – Clarky was so crafty, again another bowler I just couldn’t get away. Was always brilliant to play against. I learnt a lot about captaincy when playing against him and listening to the way he went about leadership and field placements.
Greg Matthews – purely for the entertainment value.
Steve O’Keefe
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Greg Mail – the best grade cricketer in my opinion. Batting wise he was a master at controlling the innings, again another player you could look up to for advice even when playing against him.
Adam Crosthwaite – one of the cleanest hitter of the ball. I love his approach to the game and would have enjoyed playing Cricket with him. Scored 200 not out against us in a Semi final and would still be batting to this day if we hadn’t called the game off out of exhaustion.
Dan Smith – played the fastest knock I had seen in a T20 and belted us everywhere. As an opposition captain he was a nightmare as he would just hit the ball to where you moved the player making you look very stupid in the process. Amazing skills and again one of the great blokes
Greg Mail
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Steve Smith against Mosman. We dropped 8 catches in the game and they got to a handy score. We lost Phil Jaques in the first over and Smithy just proceeded to belt the ball everywhere. We had a short sided boundary and at one end it was all cut shots and cover drives, then the other end it was flicks over the midwicket and square leg boundary. The opening bowler tried to sledge him and the next 3 went for six… it was the only time I heard a bowler refuse to bowl when asked by the skipper, this poor part time leggy came on and bowled a No ball – the free hit Smithy faced up left handed and hit that for 6 too… it was a class above anything I had ever seen.
Was there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
Trent Copeland. Copes as I mentioned above, I think I averaged about 5 against Saints because of him.
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?
My first few games in the top grade felt surreal. In a matter of weeks I was bowled by Waqar Younis, caught by Mark Waugh and then fielded at short leg to Glenn McGrath. I think it was the last real time professional players had time to play a few grade games.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Peter Nevil would have to have the best hands I have seen. You would never hear the ball hit his gloves. Could watch James Allsopp keep all day too as he was just a classy looking cricketer.
Peter Nevill
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Adam Fleming – Flem was brilliant to play with, our team grew 10 fold when he took the new ball, so much skill and his knowledge of the game was second to none. The injuries he had shortened what should have been a great professional career in my opinion, but he never let that get to him or the team it was always about getting better together. It’s no doubt that when the sharks had success Flem was on the park
Dan Rixon – Hardest worker I saw. He would always train the house down and again another one who always put the team first no matter what the situation.
Dan Rixon - wicket keeper
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
David Givney – he was my Fifth Grade captain and had a love for the game like no other. He would always sort me out if I was struggling in a higher grade and help me with the most simplest of advice.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Too hard to decide between Adam Zampa and Louis Talay – both of them would have everyone in stiches all day long.
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
I would have to say a day we played against Mitch Starc and my opening partner Steve Cush was working in Hotels and had ZERO sleep due to a work issue the night before. Cush was a gun opening bat and honestly one of my Favourite batting partners. On this day he played and missed at 6 deliveries in a row. After the final ball Starc just stopped in the middle of the wicket and asked “what the f**k has happened to the standard of grade cricket”
There was also a day at Rosedale Oval when we had a naked guy having a sword fight with the sight screen. We had to play about 15 overs with this guy in the background as he was so cooked on ICE that no one wanted to go near him… Clarky sent his rookie down to ask him to move and this only resulted in the guy trying to sword fight the young lad
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
Opening with Phil Jaques against Doug Bollinger in the first game of the season. In the sheds I made a big deal about taking the first ball as the bowler is just as nervous…. First ball hit my pad so fast it went on to hit my bat as I was so slow at reacting and I was caught at gully and LBW on the first ball of the season. I walked off to Jaqueso laughing his head off.
Who was your childhood hero?
I was a huge Steve Waugh Fan – got to meet him when I was coaching, and his son was coming through the youth teams and I was like a kid in a candy shop listening to him talk about batting
Steve Waugh
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Tiger Woods, Ricky Ponting, Bubba Watson (all on a golf course)
Bubba Watson
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Kerry O’Keefe then Ricky Ponting
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Manly Oval – beautiful wicket and amazing atmosphere especially when it’s a beach day.
What there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Sydney University. They were the bench mark for me, always so disciplined and if you scored runs against them you earned every run.
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Anytime we won a competition it was special but I would have to say winning the One Day comp in first grade against a seriously strong Sydney Uni
Personally, becoming Life Member at Sutherland would have to be my proudest moment.
Sutherland District Cricket Club First Grade Limited Over Premiers. The team was Matthew Hughston (captain), Andre Adams, Matthew Bradley, Stephen Cush, Luke Dudman, Nathan Fitzgerald, Adam Fleming, Phil Jaques, Nic Maddinson, Daniel Rixon, Louis Talay
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
The above – we had Andre Adams playing for us and Sydney University had such a star studded batting line up (I think they had the 3 highest scores in the comp at 2, 3 and 4) the spell of bowling from Dre that day was the best I ever saw – even the great Greg Mail says he was worked over that day. He was express from such a short run up and could do anything he wanted with the ball. One the great men too
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Tough one as I was lucky to play with some great men at the Sharks – Phil Jaques, Dan Rixon, Jason Young.
What are your hobbies?
Golf tragic – absolutely love the game.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Focus on what you can change – if you cannot affect the outcome then do not waste time trying to
What is your occupation?
I’m the Customs Manager at Bowens Logistics – we are a Logistics provider in Sydney that handle freight, customs clearance, warehousing and procurement of products.
?Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
Sadly not, I coached at Sutherland for a few years but since moving to Brisbane and having a little family it has been tough to be around the game.
If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
Grade cricket must be the focus point – and the best players need to be playing as much as possible (very hard when there is so much money involved elsewhere)
