Mat Dowman (b1974)

CRICKETER Mathew Peter Dowman is the son of Grantham policeman Clive Dowman.

He went to Earl of Dysart School and St Hugh’s and showed potential as a left-handed batsman and right-arm medium-fast bowler with Grantham and Belvoir cricket clubs.

His record Youth Test score of 267no for England against the West Indies at Hove in 1993 meant that his career had arguably peaked before he had even made a single First-class appearance.

He spent the majority of his career for Nottinghamshire, starting on the Youth Training Scheme

His county cap came in 1998, and after averaging 34.33 the following year, he was released to Derbyshire. ‘Doomer’, as he is nicknamed, had a steady first season and in making his maiden century for his new club against Hampshire he was dropped five times and saw his wicket struck but the bails remain unmoved.

Despite starting 2001 with an unbeaten 145 against a strong Pakistani XI, he averaged a paltry 16.08 in the championship, and an equally unimpressive 17.63 in 2002, although he did captain

Derbyshire in his penultimate first-class match against an Indian XI.

With his sparkling strokeplay and aggressive instincts, it is perhaps a surprise that Dowman never recorded a limited-overs century.

Dowman was appointed captain of Lincolnshire in the Minor Counties Championship in 2003 and retired from cricket in 2012.