DOUBLE TOPLEY
How Reece almost walked away from game... and learnt ukulele during lockdown
The return of ODI cricket has been music to the ears of the eCB money men – and if they want someone to provide the theme tune, then Reece Topley might top the bill.
Before this summer, the Surrey man’s most recent one-day cap came back in 2016.
After four years in the international wilderness, the odds of him adding to his 10 one-day and six T20 caps looked remote.
But now he is forcing his way back into England’s plans, starting with a wicket (1-31 off nine overs) and a catch in yesterday’s match against Ireland at The Ageas Bowl, Southampton.
Which means his recent musical exploits might have to take a backseat.
He said: “I have quite a lot of other things that interest me outside of cricket, which has been pretty useful this summer.
“I was locked out of my drum studio in Peckham so I took up the ukulele. I’ve been doing that, doing a lot of studying and trying to view a lot of houses too.
“I’m so-so musically but it’s just nice to have a creative outlet. At school you always have things to be creative with and then that gets curtailed, so I took it on myself to get creative again.
“What am I like as a drummer? Well, the drums are just easy to play if you can’t read music. If you’ve got some basic coordination then you’re halfway there.”
Topley has been handed some pretty bum notes in recent seasons, having been on England’s radar since bursting into the Essex side at the age of 17 in 2011.
A member of England’s squad at the T20 World Cup in 2015, Topley threatened to be a bowler who would never reach his full potential.
Having impressed with Sussex last summer before joining Surrey on a twoyear deal back in October, Topley now has the chance to play a major role for his country in the shortest formats again.
And it is one he is prepared to grasp with both hands.
“I had the chance to go to play in some T20 leagues this winter and I turned that down so I could try to be fresh for Surrey in the first game of the year,” he says.
“Had I known what was going to happen, I would have gone and played in them. To be honest, it was just a relief to get stuck into cricket again. I hadn’t ever given up on England.
“If I’m fit then I know I’m good enough. I know I’m not the best in the world, 100 per cent, but I know where I am with my cricket. I’ve been told before that I’m the next man when it comes to England squads. Getting into a team that are world champions is never going to be easy, I completely accept that.
“There is so much talent in the Test and ODI side. I know I need to break into a team that are world champions and that will be no mean feat. But everyone has to take that challenge on and push everyone for a spot.”