Cox gets the green light

By Paul Pickering
DANDENONG recruit Matthew Cox has been given the green light to resume his cricket career at Shepley Oval after a bitter split with Hawthorn-Monash University.
Cricket Victoria’s pennant committee rubber-stamped Cox’s move on Monday night, overturning Hawthorn-Monash University’s decision to deny the in-form batsman a clearance.
The 24-year-old Berwick resident walked out on the Hawks last month after being dropped to the second XI because he had missed a training session to be with his pregnant partner.
The resultant feud with Hawks president Glenn Jones convinced him to seek a transfer from his club of 10 years.
Hawthorn-Monash University blocked the clearance on the grounds that the club had nurtured the gifted batsman since he was 14, but Cox said he was relieved that the “nightmare” was over.
“I just want to get back to enjoying my cricket and not having to worry about all the bullshit that goes on at Hawthorn,” he said on Tuesday.
The Hawks have been widely criticised for their aggressive recruiting regime and off-field dealings this season.
In October, the club threatened to sue CV and Casey South-Melbourne for their delay in granting Swans paceman Lukas Hoogenboom a clearance to the Hawks. As the News went to print on Wednesday, Hawthorn-Monash University was still considering its option to appeal the pennant committee’s decision – a right the club holds until 48 hours after the original ruling.
Ironically, Cox was preparing to make his Panthers debut in the Primary Edge Cup Twenty20 clash against the Hawks.
He said he couldn’t wait to pad-up against his old side, but noted that there were no hard feelings with most of his former teammates.
“I’ve spoken to them and they’ve basically said, ‘get out while you can’,” Cox explained.
Dandenong coach Warren Ayres said Cox would be a welcome addition to the Panthers line-up, but he questioned Hawthorn-Monash University’s conduct.
“I think everything they try and do at the moment is against what every other club thinks is right,” Ayres said.
Cox expects to be available for Dandenong’s two-day match against Camberwell beginning on 29 November.