Greybeard Matthews upstages Jaques

Greg Matthews, the former Test offspinner, talks a great game – and still bowls one. In the lead-up to Phil Jaques’ return from back surgery, Matthews, 49, let the Test opener know he would be in for a tough time during Sutherland’s first grade match against Sydney University.

“Phil is a great batsman," Matthews said. "I'll give him an hour to get a feel for things, but that's it. If Stuart Clark or Mitch Cook don't roll him, hopefully the old man can come on and get lucky."

Matthews didn’t give Jaques a chance to get his eye in. After one over from Clark late in the day, Matthews arrived and had Jaques lbw with his first ball, which he said was a skidder.

Did Matthews, who now has a grey beard and round figure, feel sorry for Jaques? "Not for one millisecond do I feel anything other than elation,'' Matthews said in the Sunday Telegraph. "Phil is going to play 50 more Tests. He's got it all in front of him.”