I was called into my dad’s team and took 6-23... as a nine-year old!

There’s barely anything that I can remember from my first games with Surrey, but there is something in particular that stands out – and it doesn’t get much better than Alastair Cook being your maiden first-class wicket.

I’d played with Cookie since I was about 15, so I knew him relatively well and in that summer he scored 100 in both innings of a second XI game against us, so we knew even then the dangerous player he was.

That was really his breakthrough year, but I still got him out caught behind – that was all I could remember from the entire match!

But in the middle of the game I got offered a two-year contract, so it must have done me quite good even then!

Before then I had a rather different route into cricket. My dad and grandad played when I was young, where I watched and messed about, but then when I was eight or nine really came my breakthrough.

My dad’s team, South Wimbledon, were one short for a Sunday game, so I came in to just fill the numbers – and ended up with six for 23 against a team of adults!

From there some national newspapers heard about it and Surrey heard about it, organised a trial and it all just escalated from there. I played for Surrey Under-9s before I played a club game, and then played a number of club games right through my teens.

I didn’t think much of playing at that age, I just enjoyed playing cricket and playing for Surrey was another part of it. It wasn’t until I got to about 13 that I thought I could make a living and play for the first team.

I was lucky enough to get through the age groups, signed for Surrey in 2001/2002 on a summer contract and from there it escalated, living the dream with the likes of Graham Thorpe and Alec Stewart.

It was playing with them that made the early days the real highlights.

But what also sticks fondly is taking five wickets at Old Trafford against Lancashire. I ended up with 5/76 and it was probably the best I’d ever bowled – it was just a shame I couldn’t take more five-fers or have more of an impact with the ball.

Being a professional sportsman with Surrey was very special, but I was plagued with injuries which, as a fast bowler, is par for the course.

It wasn’t just the bog-standard niggles either; they properly put me out for long spells, but I’ll always remain very proud of playing 22 First-Class games for Surrey.

I still have a lot of friends there and the club meant and still means everything to me. I was there for six or seven years and that’s a dream I’m very lucky to have fulfilled.

After cricket, I’m now a carpenter which I’ve been doing for three years. It took me some time to realise what I wanted to do after my passion, leaving what you love, but I’d advise anyone once they’ve retired just to try a few bits and find some things they love just as much as cricket.