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• This morning's net session proved to be of great interest.
• In an open net situation Matthew faced the bowling of Carl Hopkinson and Keith Greenfield
• At appropriate moments and from particular shots Matthew ran between the wickets - often for three runs at a time.
• After 20 minutes he was beginning to show a healthy sweat and at the end of the 45 minute session he had clearly felt the value of the demanding exercise.
• When Matthew began working at the County just after Christmas he felt that he was fit as he always worked out during the winter months.
• Now he realises there is a level of fitness at school boy level and a very different type of fitness required for professional cricket.
• At school boy level you can almost lie about your fitness in the belief that you can hide " in the crowd".
• Working with Rob Harley and other members of the staff Matthew has realised that there is no where to hide and your personal fitness is on show for all to see.
• As it so happens he has worked hard and may well be in the top 5 for fitness in the present County squad. We will find out fairly soon when they begin their tour of Grenada.
• Why was he not fitter and more easily able to transfer from School boy level to the professional stage?
• He has been an England player for several seasons and has also been a member of the Sussex Academy.
• The Academy may well be run on a small budget and although,in recent seasons, it has made good progress it may not be possible to cover every requirement of the professional game. Perhaps this is a topic for private discussion at the Club.
• Becoming an Academy within the England Wales Cricket Board administration may well produce more income to employ the specialist required to hone the modern day cricketer.
• Putting aside the fitness aspect which Peter Moores has emphasised since his appointment I found it enjoyable to turn my back on Matthew's batting and solely to listen to leather on willow. The vast majority of his shots were slap bang in the middle of his blade. He clearly has made very good progress in the nets and is now in control of his concentration and shot selection.
• The confidence which he now exudes must be seen in Grenada out in the middle. There he will not only be playing for a place against members of the Sussex County squad but also against young up and coming members of Northants CCC whose youth scouting programme has been one of the best for several seasons. Let's hope that he keeps away from beach volley ball which brought about the injury of David Sales, England A and Northants CCC
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