Matthew Rawnsley

Matthew James Rawnsley (born 8 June 1976) is a former English cricketer who played county cricket at first-class and List A level for Worcestershire. He later played minor counties cricket, as well as making two List A appearances, for Herefordshire. He was born in Birmingham.

Rawnsley spent his Worcestershire career on the fringes of the first team, only rarely getting a lengthy run in the side. Comfortably his most significant season was 2001, when he played 15 first-class and 21 List A games. In that season, he took 27 first-class wickets – albeit at an expensive average of 44.85 – and 21 List A wickets at 34.19; in both cases, these were the highest season's aggregates of his career.

However, Rawnsley's best individual bowling performances came in other years. His first-class career best of 6–44 was achieved in the second innings against Oxford University at The University Parks in 1998; he also claimed 5–72 in the first innings to pick up his only ten-wicket match haul. His best one-day performance of 5–26 came in a National League game against Kent at Tunbridge Wells.

In general, Rawnsley was not a particularly accomplished batsman: in first-class cricket he never reached 40, although he did score a century for Worcestershire's Second XI in 1997. In 25 List A innings he reached double figures only twice, and his highest score for Worcestershire was a mere 12. However, he did contribute with the bat on one of his two List A appearances for Herefordshire: playing against Oxfordshire in the C&G Trophy at Bodicote. In an easy win for Herefordshire, Rawnsley scored 61 as well as taking 3–8. He is currently playing for Ombersley Cricket Club in the Birmingham League.