Matt Bryant: Old Boys off-spinner talks cricket, life and returning to first grade

The then 18-year-old had just returned his best ever figures, taking 6-52 bowling off-spin for Old Boys against South Tamworth at Riverside 2.

Speaking to the Leader at the close of play, Bryant said he wanted to play for NSW.

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That has not happened, as the 22-year-old struggled to lock down a first-grade spot at Old Boys while dealing with the difficulties life threw at him after graduating from Oxley High.

A self-confessed poor student, he said life had "definitely been a lot harder" than he expected post-school.

"Not doing too well in school probably wasn't my best choice," he said. "But I was lucky enough to find a pretty lovely home down at Office Works."

At No 1 Oval last Saturday, Bryant found himself back in top grade after several Old Boys played for the Bolters in Ballina last weekend.

He said he had spent the past "couple of seasons" keeping wicket in second grade.

"It was a bit of a shock when the skipper threw me the white rock," he said of Old Boys' stand-in captain Jack Richards asking him to bowl against Wests in the one-dayer.

He repaid Richards' faith in him by returning Old Boys' best figures: 3-32 off eight overs in the reigning premiers' eight-wicket win.

"It was good to get some wickets," he said. "I was surprised to bowl as well as I did."

Against West Tamworth, Bryant's elder brother, left-arm quick Daniel, opened the bowling for Old Boys and took 1-17. The brothers have played a lot of second grade together.

While Daniel has kept his first-grade spot for undefeated Old Boys' Twenty20 against North Tamworth on Saturday, his brother has dropped back to second grade.

Bryant said it would be "lovely" to cement a top-grade berth. And he is still thinking big: "[It's] pretty far away," he said of playing for NSW, "but that would be the dream."

"I sort of need to get into the gym a bit and get a bit of fitness about me, and then we'll see how we go," he said of elevating his game.

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