PHOTO BY MARK METCALFE
I never knew you could make a living out of playing cricket. I was 10 years old and playing down at my local club, Whitmore CC, with my brother. I was a footballer at the time, probably better at football, but I loved the atmosphere at the cricket club. The people were so nice, playing cricket on the outfield with the other kids, and I chose cricket over football. Before I knew it I was on the England academy, and making my England debut at 18. The contracts came in a few years later. But even now, at 30, I still think, ‘Oh my god, I’m actually getting paid to do this’.