My 200 was the longest innings for Derbyshire, but we still lost!

When my brother Rob signed for Essex, he badgered me to take cricket seriously but at 18 I hadn’t decided what I wanted to do.

The kids I played with in Essex age groups all dreamed of playing for the country and had come out of private schools such as Felsted and Bancroft’s, but I was just a lad from a normal comprehensive who wanted to have fun.

So I went to Haringey Cricket College – that had produced players like Mark Alleyne and Keith Piper – and I thought if I was going to go, let me be around people who have made it.

Eventually, I got the call that Phil Russell was looking for players at Derbyshire, and I was caught and bowled on 99 before making 77 against Worcestershire’s 2nds. They offered me a contract and at 20 it was the first time I thought, “OK, this is my job now”.

I made my first-class debut in 1993 as a wicketkeeper – I’d actually kept a lot during school cricket but backache and growing pains put a stop to that. Karl Krikken and Bernie Maher were injured and I put my hand up.

They thought, at 6ft 5in, I was joking! But they liked what they saw and the first thing I did was stump Worcestershire’s Tim Curtis.

My first century came in 1995 after my 35th game, which was a relief, and two games later I scored my double hundred against Gloucestershire.

I batted nine hours, still the longest innings in Derbyshire history, and it was so hot over the two days. After my 100 I didn’t even think about 200, and I only knew about the record when our statistician told me. We still lost!

In 1999, Dominic Cork was away with England and expressed being unhappy about some local players who had been signed or not released – but it was a committee decision, and I think he wanted more control as captain. As a players’ rep I just said at the AGM that these young players’ dreams are to play for Derbyshire and we should support them. It all became quite a big thing in the local press and there was a rumour I’d be made captain if Corky left, but I made it clear as far I was concerned he was skipper. I eventually left in the middle of a five-year contract in 1999. After Dean Jones resigned his captaincy, the dressing room was never the same with all the politics. I thought it was water under the bridge, but others didn’t – I never wanted to leave Derbyshire. Notts and Leicestershire were interested, but Northants were great. They put me up in a hotel – not that it made my mind up(!) – showed me around and not only did they have a clear plan, but asked me what I wanted to achieve. And Matthew Hayden wanted me in the team, which was great. The following season was my worst statistically, but I got close to a double at Lord’s – 100 and then 96. Russell Warren down the other end said I could be onto something special, I hadn’t thought about it myself. But I then charged at Tim Bloomfield and found Mark Ramprakash at mid-off. I had some unfortunate injuries, too. There is one that Graeme Swann can’t help bringing up every time he is on air. He bowled a full toss to Neil Fairbrother, it pinballed around and struck me in the perineum which swelled up. I had to have it drained! I was forced to retire in 2003 due to a wrist injury. I’d always fielded at short leg which is how I sustained it. I took the news well. I never thought I’d achieve all I did and always played with a smile on my face. I’m now an assistant headteacher and it is very rewarding – I can say that it’s a lot harder than being a cricketer...