Elliott back after nightmare journey

MELBOURNE - Matthew Elliott last played first-class cricket in the tiny northern Wales outpost of Colwyn Bay in August.

Tomorrow, the classy left-hander finally returns for Victoria against Tasmania in the Pura Cup match at the MCG.

The journey between the two appearances has been a nightmare for the 29-year-old former Australian opener, who admitted today there were times he thought his career was over as he battled a debilitating knee injury.

"I remember I had a hit-out one night at training (in early October) and afterwards I was quite sore and I was very frustrated," he said.

"I was really struggling at that stage and there came a point where I didn't think I was going to play again."

It was then Elliott decided to visit Adelaide physiotherapist Steve Saunders, a former 110 metre hurdler who had previously looked after the South Australian cricket team.

"Since then I haven't looked back," Elliott said.

Elliott said Saunders immediately told him to cut out all gym work and exercise and instead provided constant massage to the right knee he had previously damaged in an infamous mid-pitch collision with Mark Waugh.

Elliott said his knee now feels as good as new.

"I feel like I could go for a run and do things I haven't been able to do for a long time," he said.

Elliott's return is a massive boost for Victoria, which despite relying solely on Brad Hodge and Jason Arnberger for runs this season, was still third on the table.

And the Bushrangers will certainly be hoping Elliott can find the kind of form he showed in his previous first-class match when playing for Glamorgan against Sussex in Wales.

"We got sent in and we made three for 735," Elliott said.

"I got 177 and the opening partnership with Steve James was nearly 400 and he finished up 309 not out."

The mere mention of such an opening partnership would send shivers through the Tasmanian camp after they watched Elliott and Arnberger bat throughout the entire first day of this fixture last year.

And while the Vics go into the game with a threadbare bowling attack, with Colin Miller on Test duty and Shane Warne and Damien Fleming both injured, the Tigers have an undermanned batting line-up and would certainly not want to chase any large totals.

As well as being without Test batsman Ricky Ponting, the Tigers will also be without injured top order batsman and spinner Daniel Marsh.

TEAMS:

VICTORIA: Paul Reiffel (c), Jason Arnberger, Matthew Elliott, Matthew Mott, Brad Hodge, Clinton Peake, Ian Harvey, Ben Oliver, Darren Berry, Michael Lewis, Mathew Inness, John Davison.

TASMANIA: Jamie Cox (c), Dene Hills, Michael DiVenuto, Shaun Young, Andrew Dykes, Scott Kremerskothen, Scott Mason, Sean Clingeleffer, Shannon Tubb, David Saker, Ben Targett, Damien Wright.