Trent Bridge was the dream, but I’m loving it at Leicestershire

Injuries have derailed the young career of Ben Mike but, with sporting pedigree like his, the Leicestershire all-rounder is certain he will come good.

Still only 19, Mike is the son of former Notts allrounder Greg Mike. And having grown up at Trent Bridge, that was where the youngster always dreamed of making his name.

But back problems have plagued his teenage years and he was cut from Notts academy at the age of 16.

That was the wake-up call he needed however, and having moved to local rivals Leicestershire, Mike is desperate to make the grade.

“I can remember being very young and walking out into the middle at Trent Bridge – Dad says he took me out there as a newborn as well but I can’t remember that!” he said.

“I always wanted to be a professional, from about the age of seven I was involved in the age group stuff at Notts up until the U16s.

“But I don’t think I quite understood what it took to make it as a professional, I was just playing for the love of it. But then at 16 I got an injury in my back and got released by Notts.

“That was what triggered me to understand that if I really wanted to be a cricketer then I needed to train for it.

“Trent Bridge was where I had always dreamed of playing, I had played with them throughout the age groups.

“But when they released me, I had moved schools to Leicestershire, we had moved house and I started playing club cricket for Loughborough. Then through Dips Patel, who along with my Dad has been one of the main reasons in making the move, they both told me I would get more opportunities.”

A stress injury sidelined Mike at the back of the 2017 summer – one that saw him make numerous appearances for the 2nd XI at Leicestershire.

And the all-rounder knows he has plenty of work to do if he is to secure his future at Grace Road.

“Nic Pothas was going to offer me a contract, but he left and Andy Siddle took over and he couldn’t offer me something when he hadn’t really seen me,” he added.

“If I work really hard and show good promise, I am positive that I can be contracted by the end of next summer. Last summer gave me a good feeling for what county cricket is like.”

And for a man who counts Brett Lee as his inspiration, there is plenty of fire in the belly for what the future may hold.

“My mum wanted me to go to uni, but she knew cricket was what I wanted to do,” Mike added.

“Dad never steered me away from cricket, but at the same time he never pushed me into it.

“It was never a case of him saying, ‘You have to go and train’, I just enjoyed the game and wanted to take it seriously. I guess really it was just in my blood!

“I know I can compete at 2nd XI, I don’t see why I can’t go on and play county cricket and I have aspirations to play for England one day.”