Player Profile: Matthew Stanton

Profile by Simon Bartle

A regular for Christ's now hoping to make the step up to the NTMCC in the coming season, Matt will be hoping to make the wicket-keeping position his own. Having shown a remarkable disregard for his personal safety in the course of his sporting career to date, Matt may always be relied on to throw himself at anything and everything to help his team. Incidentally, off the pitch Matt is also willing to throw himself at anything and everything, and this has resulted in a series of questionable catches. Nevertheless, he has consistently failed to provide anyone to make the teas, and has regularly been fined accordingly.

A fine all-round sportsman, Matt earned himself a place in the (football) Cuppers-winning squad following a series of good performances for the CCAFC 2nd XI, including the now infamous 'I nearly died for this club' match which left him unconscious and requiring hospital assistance. The Jadj was lenient, but failed to forgive his failure to complete the 90 minutes. Nevertheless, it is in cricket that he excelled, being one of the first names on the teamsheet throughout his three years at Christ's, and serving as Secretary on the Committee for the 2007-2008 season. He also played a lot of mixed netball, which should be noted here, but is probably best forgotten.

In tight situations, with the batting order collapsing around him and a batsman with a cool head required, Matt could usually be relied upon to give away his wicket in the hope that the next man in fitted that description. A firm advocate of the 'The Ball Is There To Be Hit, And When It Is Hit, It Should Stay Hit' school of batting as preached by worthy predecessors such as Mr. Muttukumaru and Mr. Hakin, Matt can be relied upon to fight his way through an innings. The related, but less desirable, scenario ('The Ball Is There To Be Hit, And When It Is Not Hit, We have Probably Lost A Wicket') does not discourage Matt, and his enthusiasm on the pitch and in the clubhouse is something that has given many Christ's teams a lift in the past. Consistently good sledging served only to underline his importance to a team that all too often was bereft of witty banter of any sort, notwithstanding occasional gems from the Menace and Jimmy Oh.

***2009 UPDATE: Matt took a ridiculously good catch in the game away at Crowhurst in 2009. He also received the inaugural General Charles Gordon Award for sacrificing himself for the sake of the team.***

Career Statistics

Not the MCC

Batting

Bowling

Bowling