Burns' big milestone at Gretna

Mathew Burns.

IT'S been runs, wickets and catches aplenty for Gretna Cricket Club all-rounder Mathew Burns, who last Saturday chalked up his 400th cricket match. And he did it in style, making 62 runs and taking 1/37 off 10 overs in Gretna I's 40-run win over St Anne's.

Since starting in 1988 when the club was in the old DVCA, Burns has gone on to amass a total of 9992 runs from 370 innings with an average off 30.83, scoring nine centuries and 62 half-centuries, with a highest score of 133.

Equally as good with the ball, the evergreen cricketer has taken 312 wickets from 1583.3 overs at an average of 20.10 with best figures of 7/17 off nine overs. He has taken 194 catches and played 31 finals, bringing home four premierships and one runner-up flag.

Of the 400 matches, Burns has played 285 with Gretna I and 115 with Gretna II, racking up 237 wins. And what’s more, Burns now sits alongside his uncle and fellow club legend Joey Hack as the club's most capped players and he has no plans of giving the game away just yet, signalling he play on next season.

You can bet there will be a big round of applause when the 43-year-old makes the eight more runs he needs for the magical 10,000. Congratulations to Mathew, who was made a life member of the Gretna Cricket Club in 2013 and has been playing since he was 13.

WADE GLEESON

MATHEW BURNS' STATISTICS
Club: Gretna.
Age: 43.
Debut: October 22, 1988.
Player Number: 111.
Life Member: 2013.
Matches: 400.
Gretna I: 285.
Gretna II: 115.
Wins: 237.
Runs: 9992.
Innings: 370.
Not outs: 46.
Batting average: 30.83.
Centuries: 9.
Half-Centuries: 62.
Highest Score: 133.
Overs bowled: 1583.3
Runs taken: 6274
Wickets: 312.
Bowling average: 20.10.
Best bowling: 7/17 off 9 overs.
Catches: 194.
Gretna II Captain 2010/11.
Finals Played 31.
Premierships: 4.
Runners-up: 1.

AWARDS
Gretna Cricket Club Best Under-21 Player: 1991/92, 1994/95.
Gretna I Batting Average: 1999/2000 (32.33), 2000/01 (40.10), 2003/04 (40.27), 2007/08 (43.00), 2011/12 (41.00), 2012/13 (45.75), 2013/14 (45.29).
Gretna I Batting Aggregate: 2000/01 (401 runs), 2011/12 (615), 2012/13 (732), 2013/14 (770).
Gretna I Bowling Average: 1996/97, 2007/08 (16.07).
Gretna I Best All-rounder: 2000/01, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14.
Gretna I Players' Award Winner: 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, (runner-up: 2007/08).
Gretna I Most Catches Award: 2004/05 (11).
Gretna I Best in Finals: 2000/01, 2003/04
Gretna II Batting Average: 2009/10 (45.80).
Gretna II Batting Aggregate: 1994/95, 2009/10 (458), 2010/11 (589).
Gretna II Bowling Average: 2009/10 (18.65), 2010/11 (13.8),
Gretna II: Bowling Aggregate: 2010/11 (26).
Gretna II Best All-rounder: 2009/10, 2010/11.
Gretna II Players' Award Winner: 2009/10, 2010/11.
Derwent Valley Cricket Association A Grade Batting Average winner: 2001/02 (53.75).
Southern Cricket Association Cricketer of the Year - Division 3: 2009/10 and 2010/11.

(Gretna Cricket Club Matches and Stats, recorded since the 1977/78 season).