Matthew Townshend (born 5 March 1982) is a Zimbabwean former
cricket
Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...
er.
He played nine
first-class matches between 1999 and 2002.
Biography
Mathew Townshend developed his cricketing skills under the influence of his father, Derrick, and uncle, Trevor, both former Rhodesia players.
His early introduction to cricket was under his father's guidance, leading to his primary role as a pace bowler and a robust lower-order batsman.
Townshend's cricket career began at
St. Thomas Aquinas Primary School, and continued to
Christian Brothers College (CBC), where he frequently captained his age-group teams.
His performance in the first team at CBC was notable, achieving a batting average of about 70 in his final season.
Townshend represented the Under-14, Under-16, and Under-19 teams, excelling in the Zimbabwe Development tour to Kenya in 2000 despite facing injury challenges.
He joined
Bulawayo Athletic Club
Bulawayo Athletic Club is a sports club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The Bulawayo Athletic Club Ground is a 12,000-capacity stadium.
History
The club was founded in 1894 and has been a significant venue for many international sporting events. Cricket ...
and later the CFX Academy in 2000, aligning with Alexandra Sports Club in Harare and earning praise for several standout performances.
While still at high school, Townshend made his first-class cricket debut for Matabeleland, taking six wickets at an average of 31 in three matches and maintaining a batting average of 22.
His cricketing development owes much to the mentorship of Dave Houghton and Win Justin-Smith.
See also
*
CFX Academy cricket team
The CFX Academy cricket team was a first-class cricket team representing the Zimbabwe's cricket academy in the country's domestic cricket competitions. They competed in the Logan Cup from 1999 until 2002. The club played their home matches at the ...
References
External links
*
1982 births
Living people
Zimbabwean cricketers
CFX Academy cricketers
Matabeleland cricketers
Cricketers from Mutare
{{Zimbabwe-cricket-bio-stub