The interview they tried to censor. Theft of data by people posing as taxi drivers, espionage and Stowford Press. Not just the makings of the latest John Grisham novel but the interview everyone is talking about. Forget Harry and Meghan, this is Dai Matthews. International playboy, apple connoisseur and was once even called a ‘spinner’ by somebody. We sat down to find out more about one of the Tondu CC team.

 

What’s your first cricket memory?

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The 2005 Ashes. I can remember watching it in the house on Channel 4. It was the Edgbaston test. A few months after that I came down to Tondu and have been here ever since.

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Who were your cricket idols growing up?

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Jonathan Trott, Graeme Smith, Kevin Pieterson and Shane Warne.

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What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?

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The social element, comradery and the club just being the focal point for the local community.

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What are your best career bowling figures?

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5-12 Abergavenny. I bowled terribly. Don’t know how I got the wickets to be honest.

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What’s your highest score batting?

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(Seemingly not understanding the question, he then rattled off an array of scores like a cricket rainman) 75* vs Dinas Powys, 62* vs Tata Steel, 45 vs Monkswood (this season).

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What’s the best innings you’ve seen?

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Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah for Bangladesh against New Zealand in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in Cardiff.

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What’s the most devastating bowling spell you’ve seen?

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Mark Wood’s 4-25 for Durham vs Yorkshire in the T20 finals.

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What’s the best batting/bowling you’ve seen in a Ton team you’ve played in?

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Craig Townsend vs Blackwood 130*

Tom Jenkins vs Ebbw Vale (7 wickets)

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Favourite band?

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Royal Blood

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Favourite Comedy?

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South Park

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Five favourite films?

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The Prestige, Almost Famous, Into the Wild, City of God, The Departed.

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Who is your guilty celebrity crush?

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Gabby Logan

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What is your guilty pleasure?

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Stowford Press

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Favourite drug?

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Cricket. (see guilty pleasure)

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What is the funniest thing you’ve seen on a cricket pitch?

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The time I was abused on Twitter by a girl for catching her in the game. She tweeted ‘whoever that dickhead in the Slazenger spikes was!’

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What is the best international bowling attack you’ve seen?

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Philander, Steyn and Morkel.

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You’ve been described by some as ‘the white Carl Hooper’. What do you have to say to that?

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How pissed were they?

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Who has got the worst dress sense at Tondu?

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Elliot Rees

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Worst taste in music?

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Dai Rees. Just never gets the vibe of the room.

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Worst drinker?

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Matthew Richards / Tom Jenkins.

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Most likely to disappear on a night out?

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Me.

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Longest in the shower?

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Holmsey.

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Never showers?

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Owen Davies.

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Tell us a funny story about yourself that not many people know about you.

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One of the few people to wake up in a better Halloween costume than he went out in. I went to jump over a railing and got my calculations all wrong and smashed my four front teeth out. Woke up in the morning and half my mouth was missing.

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‘Drop one for the boys’ nomination (down a pint in one after the next game)….

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Richard Ready

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………next up?

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Dan Thomas