Matthew Primer

Used to be able to swing a ball. Can probably still tear a hammy.

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@cleary_mitch There's a difference between 'cleared' and thrown out due to incompetence.

[Abhishek AB @ABsay_ek]

Some cricketers arrive on the scene like fireworks. Others, like Nathan McAndrew, are more like that stubborn ember in the corner of the fireplace that simply refuses to die out.

At 32, he is not young by Australian cricket standards. He is not old either. He is simply the guy who kept showing up.

Oak Flat is a suburb near Wollongong where McAndrew learned his cricket. When New South Wales failed to notice him, he crossed the Tasman.

Andre Adams, that wily Black Caps allrounder who became NSW bowling coach, made a phone call. 3 first-class games for Auckland in 2015-16. That was the taste. Just enough to know what he was missing.

Back home, the Blues squad was packed with names that filled newspapers. McAndrew could not squeeze through. Most players at that point, start looking at coaching certificates or club cricket treasuries. McAndrew looked south.

Jason Gillespie wanted bowlers who could do something special. South Australia had not won a Shield title in nearly three decades. McAndrew signed up for that. He made his Sheild debut at age of 28.

What happened next makes no sense on paper. A discarded New South Welshman walks into Adelaide & becomes the reason a drought ends.

His numbers sit there like a quiet argument:
48 wickets in 2023/24 season at 18.6 Avaerage & 39.5 strike rate.
40 wickets at 20.2 average & 40.5 strike rate in 2024/25.
38 this time at 23.4 average & 43.6 strike rate.

He has taken 267 first-class wickets now at 25 apiece. Has scored over 2000 runs too with 24.6 average, batting at eight or nine, usually when the situation is rotten.

This week against Victoria in the final, the situation was worse than rotten. South Australia were 122 for 7 in their second innings. The lead was 59 & trophy was slipping toward Melbourne.
McAndrew walked in & added 105 runs with Alex Carey. 60 of them his own. Then he took the new ball & picked up 2 Victoria's top order wickets. Took another on today. South Australia won from nowhere.

The Baggy Green is a conversation for another day. Australian selectors have their patterns, their favorites, their boxes to tick. McAndrew does not fit neatly into any of them. He is too old to be a project. Not so fancy or flamboyant.

But here is the thing about embers that refuse to die. Sometimes they burn down the whole house.

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

A couple of likely types on this tour @biltupp

[Bharat Sundaresan @beastieboy07]

No Test cricket anymore so the @MCG stadium tours are back on

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@DukesCricket you should be embarrassed by the number of times your ball goes out of shape. Time to talk to the guys at @KookaburraCkt about how to make a cricket ball.

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@SACAnews just missed 30 mins of Cricket lining up for drinks. Disgraceful service. How are we being reimbursed?

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@DamienRactliffe Vic clubs even for 50% of their home games still have the opportunity for their fans to attend. It costs them a ticket and a train/tram ride. They almost always have their own fans attend for Melb based games. Your argument here is deeply flawed.

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@JRFromTheHill Ben Hart like. Is never beaten and never makes a mistake.

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@mattturner1986 Click bait. Commitment was made by State Government. It's a Local Government decision. State Government won't pull funding over 10 (non-significant) trees. They'll lose the next election over it.

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@theTiser Such a ridiculous click bait post. Trying to make Waleed out to be the bad guy. He didn't say it like ias his opinion. He said that's what the statistics show. Two very different things.

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@adjm27 @WisdenCricket Of course he looked up. He has to look at where he's aiming. Barstow leaves his crease after Carey releases the ball.

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@adjm27 @WisdenCricket He threw the ball pretty well imediately. Before Barstow left his crease. The ball was never dead.

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@swandane Totally agree with this. Needs to happen to be honest. There'd be few out of jobs as a result.

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@a_b_phillips And a new soccer pitch, playground and skateboard park.

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@DavePrimer @BBoyerMP @Adelaide36ers @XVentureAus Hasn't seen any broken badminton racquets since we left.

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@bet365_aus Simon O'Donnell. He would have dominated T20s. Hit bombs and bowled good overs with good variations.

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@adamhose21 Sneak in a few games for @TTGDCC? We can offer you a beat up old Toyota Camry to drive around in as payment.

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@WestEndRedbacks @travishead34 grouped with @jakehaberfield is good areas!

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

From football wilderness, to SANFL, to All Australian team in the space of 3 years is absolutely unbelievable! Well played Tyson Stengle #AFLAwards

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

As an @Adelaide_FC supporter and member of the due diligence team, this looks really exciting. Can't wait to see it come to fruition.

[Adelaide Crows @Adelaide_FC]

The Adelaide Football Club has identified Thebarton Oval as the best site to meet its long-term requirements.

#weflyasone

[Matthew Primer @MattPrimer]

@biltupp Viva Republic!