Farewell to Matt Devlin (Dev)
This weekend the Waimate Cricket Club lost one of their long serving players, as Matt Devlin leaves Waimate to join his brother James (Jimmy D) in Aussie. He has played his cricket for Waimate for his whole life from Primary School JAB to his current rank as a first choice senior player.
My first involvement with Dev was when he was a precocious third former who couldn’t sit still but had that Devlin spirit of never lying down as he spent seemingly his whole life trying to beat older brother James (Jimmy) in any sport they played from the backyard cricket tests at home to touch and on field rugby.
Those that know Matt will know that schoolwork was never high on the agenda (although certain female teachers did gain favour), but if he could work out an angle to do something better in the sporting field, then he would give it a try. I remember being frustrated in the nets when trying to teach the kids to play straight and “through the V” when all he wanted to do was practice reverse sweeps or shots that he had seen Nathan Astle play in a one day game.
It is this determination that has been the hallmark of his contributions to Waimate cricket to date, as he has had to change through injury from a fiery left-arm quick to a wily left-arm spinner who is always keen to give the ball flight but can give it a ‘tweak’ when conditions suit. Many of us have seen him put his shoulder out before changing to spin, once when appealing as he threw his arms in the air, but although his efforts at the bowling crease have never waivered, it has been his batting which has improved the most in my time.
He capped off his school career with a century, a feat not many Waimate boys can boast, while since joining senior ranks he has managed at least one half century a season with 74 not out in 2006, 74 (out) in 2007 and 52 in 2008. You can read his stats and figures up until 2007 here and in due course these will be fully listed.
I wish Matt all the best on behalf of the club and hope that he keeps in contact with everyone whether by reading about our matches or via facebook, and to make sure whenever he is home visiting his Mum or Dad he brings his whites!
Mark Medlicott
Chief Cricket Reporter Timaru Herald
That bits to use on your CV in Aussie Dev, or skite to new found friends!
