Have you heard of Matthew Maynard, he's my favourite cricketer - Mr Carbohydrate

MATTHEW MAYNARD
Matthew Maynard burst onto the county scene at Swansea in 1985 scoring an amazing century on his first-class debut, reaching his maiden hundred with 3 successive sixes off Yorkshire's Phil Carrick. Born in Lancashire, Maynard was brought up at Menai Bridge in North Wales, and after a short spell on Kent's staff, he joined Glamorgan in 1985, and ever since the gifted right handed batsman has thrilled the county's supporters with his dashing strokeplay, and he has set a host of batting records. In 1986 he became the youngest ever Glamorgan player to score a thousand runs, and in 1987 hit a breathtaking century before lunch against Somerset. He repeated the feat against Worcestershire in 1988 and further displays of such uninhibited batting drew the attention of England's selectors and in August Maynard made his Test debut against the West Indies at The Oval. He only scored 3 and 10, but at the end of the summer he was voted as the Young Cricketer of the Year.

Maynard got a further taste of international cricket in 1989/90 as he toured South Africa with Mike Gatting's English XI. The presence of Viv Richards in the Glamorgan side of 1990 helped Maynard to curb his impetious instintcs, and a series of large hundreds soon followed. In 1991 he scored hundreds in each innings against Gloucestershire, a double century against Nottinghamshire and at the end of the summer, a career best 243 against Hampshire at Southampton. Maynard also gained unvaluable experience in New Zealand playing for Northern Districts in 1990/91 and 1991/92, and in his first innings in New Zealand he also scored a century on his debut. Maynard's quick scoring talents have also been a key feature behind Glamorgan's success in one-day cricket in the 1990's, and in particular the Sunday League title in 1993.

During that summer, Maynard also hit a century before lunch against the Australians at Neath, and was recalled to the England side for two Tests in the Ashes series. He also won a place on the winter tour to the West Indies, where he won another Test cap and appeared in 5 One Day Internationals. By this time, Maynard had also tasted life as a county captain, leading Glamorgan for part of 1992 when Alan Butcher was injured. At the end of 1995, Maynard was appointed the county captain and in 1996 he led the team on a full time basis during his Benefit Year. It was a memorable summer for the new Glamorgan captain, whose batting has matured over the years like a good wine. Maynard began a vintage season by scoring the fastest ever century for Glamorgan in oneday cricket, with a hundred off just 58 balls against the British Universities. By the end of the season, he had scored 1610 runs in first-class games at an average of 61.62, and was a member of England's squad for their One Day Internationals against both India and Pakistan.

He cannot have been too far away from a place in England's winter tour party, or even leading the England A team to Australia. Maynard put these disappointments behind him in 1997 by leading Glamorgan to their third Championship success, and a semi-final place in the Nat West Trophy. Towards the end of the season, Maynard was in vintage form with the bat, scoring a scintillating 161 against Worcestershire, and a breathtaking 142 against Somerset at Taunton. The latter was one of Maynard's finest ever innings, and he reached his hundred without hitting a single. By his own admission, Matthew had a modest season in 1998, when he went through the summer without scoring a hundred, and he will be hoping for a return to form during 1999.