A boom junior who excelled in his initial years with Victoria, Mathew Inness moved to Western Australia for 2005-06 in the hope of resurrecting his career after a string of setbacks in the previous two seasons. The problems started with a bout of glandular fever in 2003-04 and declined further when, despite a haul of 20 wickets, he was left out of the successful side for the final. He asked for a release but the Bushrangers refused to let him go. Starting in the team the following summer, he was dropped from the squad and instead had to enjoy 50 grade wickets at 10.68. Moving to Perth, Inness, a left-armer who can move the ball both ways in the air and off the seam, played in three ING Cup games and five Pura Cup contests, collecting 12 first-class wickets at 44. He was overlooked in 2006-07 but retained his state contract for next summer thanks to a prolific club season that netted him 42 wickets at 15.74. He stayed busy away from the game, studying a post-graduate degree in sports science and operating a personal training business.

Inness made his debut in 1997-98 and soon broke his way into a Victoria team that was blessed with a long list of excellent bowlers, and for a few seasons in the late 1990s and the early 2000s he was one of their best. Enthusiastic and unassuming, the ginger-haired Inness is a keen sportsman who represented his state at both cricket and Australian rules football at schoolboy level before he ultimately opted to concentrate on bowling. Other players might well have been content to rest on their laurels following a spectacular first-class debut in 1997-98 against New South Wales, when he claimed the wickets of three international players and featured in two match-saving partnerships. Instead, he continued to work hard at his game and in 1999-2000 produced a sensational hat-trick against New South Wales and claimed 31 wickets from his nine games. He complemented that performance with more of the same the following year, claiming 43 victims at moderate cost and again playing a central role as the team qualified for the Pura Cup final. Injuries ultimately curbed his effectiveness in 2001-02, but not before he had made another fine start to the season, netting 31 wickets in his seven first-class games. Unfortunately for Inness, the following years were not as smooth.
Cricinfo staff August 2007

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Mar 10, 2008 Mathew Inness' 4 for 44 helped Western Australia to victory © Getty Images

Mar 1, 2008 Mathew Inness picked up two wickets against his former team-mates © Getty Images

Dec 14, 2007 Mathew Inness caused trouble for South Australia on the opening day © Getty Images

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