C Randall: DeFreitas passion still burns bright (5 Sep 1998)
PHILLIP DeFreitas's passion for cricket has not been compromised by maturity
05-Sep-1998
5 September 1998
DeFreitas passion still burns bright
By Charles Randall
PHILLIP DeFreitas's passion for cricket has not been compromised
by maturity. At 32, he can look back on two World Cup finals for
England and he has experienced three county showpieces at Lord's
before today's NatWest Trophy final, but the desire remains.
Nobody in Derbyshire's side will be more committed to the cause.
He meets his old county for the first time in a final, former
team-mates whose winning habit gave his career a lift until a
third change of employer in 1994 became inevitable, mainly for
family reasons.
He said: "The game's given me a lot in my life. Without cricket
Phillip DeFreitas doesn't exist."
He might well be remembered as a player more misunderstood than
any other if his press cuttings are to be believed, and it is
true that, after his Test debut at the age of 20, expectations of
him became unrealistically high.
Nowadays those expectations are probably too low because, despite
advancing years, he has remained a consistent and effective
opening bowler at Derby with an aptitude for run-making, and his
England comeback against Australia in the one-day series happened
as recently as last year.
The Willesden boy, an immigrant from Dominica who arrived at
Lord's for his first MCC ground-staff trial carrying his kit in a
Marks and Spencer bag, went on to play 44 Tests and 103
one-dayers for England. Yet he has had to endure injuries,
disagreements and frustration, and it is almost a surprise that
he still loves the game as much as he does.
DeFreitas has often said he lacked guidance as a young person
when he achieved success. He used to have a reputation for
sulkiness - he smiles more often these days - and his working
relationship with Michael Atherton as England's captain was
occasionally prickly.
There was a time when he would have got involved in issues such
as Dean Jones's sudden departure from Derbyshire during last
season. Instead he ended up as caretaker captain.
"I didn't really get involved in the politics," DeFreitas said.
"Whatever the club decides, I go along with it. Cricket's my life
and whatever job I'm told to do, I'll do it for whatever's best
for Derbyshire.
"When I stop playing I would like to stay involved in the game,
bringing on youngsters on the coaching side. I think I have
something to offer because I experienced so much at an early age.
I needed more guidance than was given to me, so I know what it's
like for youngsters."
DeFreitas spent four years at Leicestershire, but a practical
joke against an under-the-weather Jonathan Agnew resulted in
DeFreitas's cricket bag - by now more substantial than a carrier
bag - being dumped over the balcony at Grace Road. The ensuing
publicity underlined that all was not well.
He became disillusioned at Lancashire and left four years ago,
saying his cricket was "going nowhere" and that his family were
too far from their relatives. "I gave up a benefit to go to
Derbyshire, but I gained happiness," he said.
DeFreitas made headlines again in a fire rescue when he dragged
an elderly neighbour from a smoke-filled home. Today, though, the
focus is on cricket, and DeFreitas is relishing the
responsibility on the big stage at Lord's. Here he is perhaps
most at ease.
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)