I was at his Matthew Elliot’s breakthrough innings at the G.He absolutely slaughtered the warriors in that game, and my old man mentions that innings in the same hushed tones he uses for Sobers double century.
He couldn’t have been much older than 21.
Over the years I must have seen Elliot make at least 10 centuries, and the same question seemed to come back to me over and over again, how can a player this good not make it internationally.
Elliott had a weird career. He had seasons where he was the best opener in the world, and others where he found odd ways to go out, including once getting stumped off funky miller by a silly mid off fielder.
His international career was stopped by two non form related incidents, one involving his famous crash with Mark Waugh and subsequent knee injury, and the other one that involved him breaking the players code of what happens on tour never ever ever ever makes it back to the players wives.
The international highlights for me, was the way he pulled Allan Donald in his tour of South Africa, where he was given the number 3 role. He clearly didn’t like it, but that one innings of 80odd, including perhaps the best pull shot I have ever seen, was worth it for me.
His Ashes tour, sure he was only playing an England A side in those days, but the hundred at Lords and the 199 at Leeds were awesome. His other ton was against the Kiwis and was the ugliest innings ever, it was very rare he would score runs ugly, I think he got dropped a bunch of times and then McMillan got him.
The best thing about those innings was he wasn’t even in top form, because when he was on best form, it was impossible to get him out.
Years earlier when he was at the cricket academy Dennis Lillee was advising all the bowlers of each batsmen’s weakness. When they asked him about Elliott, he said he couldn’t find one.
As a batsmen he was truly amazing, but a man as quiet and sensitive as he was not made for a team sport.
From early on there were always whispers he didn’t fit in, he was an intense guy, his team mates didn’t get him, and that his sense of humour was odd at best.
If batting was turned into an individual pursuit sport, he would have been one of the best of all time.
My favourite innings, and perhaps the best innings I have ever seen was a hundred he made against NSWales. The bowling list included Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken and Stuey MacGill and he treated them like they were one legged lepers with two left arms.
Behind me that day was former Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns, and I spent all day reminding him that Elliott was a superstar batting.
He played a test against Bangladesh after that, and then even Victoria didn’t want him and he was shipped off to the wasteland known as South Australian cricket.
From the age of 12 to 16 he was my favourite cricketer, he took over from Dean Jones and was replaced by Ian Harvey.
I have almost forgiven him for playing for the Redbacks, but I would like to thank him for some of the best innings I will ever see.
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