Gary Mathew RIP :1958-2026
Randwick Petersham Cricket Club | May 31, 2026
Gary Mathew was one of the real successes in the Randwick 1st Grade premiership teams of the early 1980s. In the 1981-82 side he was second only to Peter Clifford with 548 in the number of runs scored while in 1983-84 he was at the top of the list with 594 including two centuries. That was the third successive season he had passed the 500 runs mark in 1st Grade–a rare feat. Gary’s talents were recognised by NSW selectors and that season he was included in the State Squad.
Gary John Mathew was born at Barraba on 16 September 1958. Most of his upbringing however, occurred in Grafton where he completed his schooling at Grafton Boys High. Shortly after finishing his HSC, the 17 year old came to Sydney at the prompting of State Selector and Randwick Life Member, Jack Chegwyn. Jack had suggested to club officials that the youngster was one with a promising future. He arrived in time to play the last few games in 4th Grade and under 21 Poidevin-Gray in 1975-76 knocking up close to 200 runs.
Starting in 3rd Grade in 1976-77, he was quickly promoted through the grades and made his 1st Grade debut over the Australia Day holiday weekend in January 1977. Unfortunately, it was far from a match to remember with the side out for 73 chasing 217. Gary was run out for 1. It was a different story a week later however, in the round 12 clash with Manly at Manly Oval. While defeated on the first innings, Randwick batted a second time with young Mathew remaining unconquered at stumps with an impressive score of 69*. With top score of 39 in the final match against Waverley two games later, Gary Mathew was looking all the star Jack Chegwyn had indicated he would be a couple of years earlier.
Gary struggled a little in the season which followed, playing a few games in 3rd Grade in an attempt to strike a bit more form. And while he spent the whole of 1978-79 in 2nd Grade, the experience gave him his first taste of premiership honours. The team won both the minor and major premierships for the first time in 45 years. And Gary Mathew was the leading bat making 421 runs with a best score of 72. He showed much improved dedication at the crease while putting far greater value on his wicket. He opened the batting and was like a rock at the top of the order. There was no greater example than in the semi-final against Northern District at Coogee when an early batting collapse saw the score a shaky 6-80 at lunch. Gary, however, was still there and his 57 runs guided the side to a winning total of 175 with NDs later out for 145. He continued that form into the next season where he hit his maiden century with an even 100* against NDs in the opening round.
Two seasons later, Mathew was a regular fixture in what was another Randwick 1st Grade premiership team. Originally batting first drop, he was installed as opening bat with Peter Clifford when John Dyson was called upon by Australian and NSW selectors. The combination proved to be a winner as they became the most reliable opening pair in the competition giving their team starts of 153, 84, 73, 66 and 62 among others. Clifford headed the batting with 615 runs while Mathew was next best with 548. He scored four half-centuries with 85 in 213 minutes hitting nine fours against Bankstown his best.
The following summer, Gary brought up an important milestone with his first century in 1st Grade. He scored 112 with 10 boundaries against Sutherland at Caringbah Oval and an attack which included the fiery Test fast bowler Len Pascoe. He made 598 runs that season and with Peter Clifford, again put on many superb opening partnerships. The best was 162 against Mosman at Coogee which was the highest since 181 was posted in 1957 by Alan Cripps and John Bolster.
Gary Mathew was the utmost professional in 1983-84 guiding Randwick to yet another 1st Grade premiership–its fourth in seven seasons. He topped the batting with 594 runs and scored two magnificent centuries. Playing Sutherland at Caringbah once again, he hit 126 in a score of 7-316 including 16 boundaries made in 264 minutes. He and David Knox put on 150 for the second wicket. Three matches later Mathew had a massive score of 140 with 18 fours in 334 minutes against Mosman at Rawson Park. He and Greg Arms put on 150 for the first wicket. Notwithstanding the magnitude and quality of those innings, his most important knock occurred in the Grand Final when he made 70 in almost six hours against Balmain at Hurstville Oval to ensure a Randwick victory.
Over the following two seasons, Gary came close to two more 1st Grade milestones. In 1984-85 he missed out by just six runs to bring up a fourth successive 500 runs season when he completed the summer with 494. And the next season playing University of NSW in the first round, he was caught for 98–just two short of a fourth 1st Grade century. Gary finished with 374 that season which took him close to the 3,000 1st Grade runs mark. Sadly, that milestone did not eventuate with Randwick as the 27-year-old decided to take a break from the game. It was a season when many of Randwick’s top players who had been together for some time moved on, ending the greatest era in the history of Randwick Cricket.
In 11 seasons with the club, Gary Mathew scored a total of 4,559 runs across four grades with 2,915 in 1st Grade. With his Poidevin Gray statistics, his figures extend to 4,857. A sharp fieldsman, he held 77 catches. That was not the end of his Grade Cricket career however, as a season later he re-surfaced with Mosman alongside good friend and former Randwick team-mate Gary Bensley. He played five seasons with Mosman adding another 1,432 1st Grade runs to give him a career total of 4,347 in the top grade.
Gary passed away at Barraba, NSW, on 28 May 2026 after a long illness. He was 67.
