Five Firsts

Ducks, sixes, and the other Taylor

From selling papers to idolising a namesake to hitting hundreds for England



"I scored plenty of sixes playing softball cricket aged 10" © Getty Images

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First duck
I had a whole season of ducks once, aged 14, when playing for the Thames Valley U-19s. I think I scored a total of 10 runs. I was a bowler back then.

First ODI hundred
Against Sri Lanka in the World Cup. Jane Smit was batting with me. We had a photo of us having a hug, and then with a Cricinfo cheque.

First six
Absolutely no idea, but I'm sure I scored plenty of sixes playing softball cricket, aged 10.

First job
Paper delivery, when I was 14. Sorting out the leaflets and then delivering them, pulling them along behind me.

First meeting with a cricketing idol
Clare Taylor was my first cricket idol - the double international. I played cricket against her a few times, and then went to watch the World Cup final in 1993 when I was 17. After the end of the game, I rushed up to Clare to get a photo with her, which I still have. She was not bothered at all, was looking around for her friends to celebrate, and I'm smiling broadly and she is looking in a totally different direction. I've shown her the photo after that, and we've had quite a laugh about it.

Clare TaylorJane SmitClaire Taylor

As told to Nishi Narayanan