Matt Poore was a solid right-hand batsman and capable offspinner who was a mainstay of the New Zealand side of the early to mid 1950s. Although he was primarily a batsman who could bowl, he never really performed in Tests where he failed to make a fifty. His best returns came on the 1953-54 tour of South Africa where he scored 170 runs in the five Tests, and 550 at 22.91 on the tour as a whole. On his only other trip overseas - to India and Pakistan in 1955-56 - he was less successful, amassing only 132 runs in seven Tests. He was a better player than the figures suggest - his first-class best was 142 for Central Districts. He retired after a wretched season in 1956-57 when he scored 90 runs at 12.85, although his form with the ball improved and he enjoyed his best year with 16 wickets at 17.50. He made a brief comeback four seasons later where in three matches his performances were distinctly mediocre.
Martin Williamson