Television date with James Anderson for Covid-19 crisis NHS hero from Devon

James Anderson (right) warming up before the opening day of the first Test against the West Indies in his

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

CRICKETER Tom Field had more than just 15 minutes of fame when he appeared on BBC Breakfast Television this morning (Wednesday) together with England fast bowler Jimmy Anderson.

The 28-year-old from Devon, now living in London and working with Covid-19 patients being treated in St George’s Hospital, was selected by the ECB for inclusion in a recognition initiative.

England’s Test players have been honouring key workers from the cricket community involved in the Covid-19 pandemic by sporting their names on the back of their training tops in the build up to the first Test against the West Indies in Southampton.

Tom Field -Field, a nurse practitioner working on ward of seriously ill Covid-19 sufferers, was picked to have Anderson’s name emblazoned on the back of a training top.

While Field was being interviewed live on Breakfast Television about the honour and his reaction to it, Anderson unexpectedly joined the conversation.

Once the interview ended the phone calls began with Five Live, BBC London, Times Radio, an ECB press officer and a national newspaper agency all eager for a version of Tom’s story.

“It was a challenge getting all the interviews done then preparing for a 12-hour shift at the hospital,” said Tom, who works permanently on the night shift at St George’s.

Tom said NHS staff appreciated all the expressions of thanks shown by the public at large during the Covid-19 crisis, but this one was special to him

“People clapping us in the street has been fantastic and the care packages sent to us have been a godsend when you have been working for hours with barely a break,” said Tom.

“There have been lots of gestures but as cricket is my true love to have my name on James Anderson’s back is extra special.

“He has been playing for England for as long as I have been playing the game and to have my name on his back is a massive thing for me, if a little surreal.”

Doctors and nurses, teachers and healthcare professionals like Tom were among the key workers whose names were stencilled on to the back of the England players’ training kit.

England spinner Dom Bess, Sidmouth’s famed cricketing son, has the name of Wendy Morris on his training top. She is a nurse who is associated with Ropley CC in Hampshire.

Craig Overton, the North Devon fast bowler who is in the Test squad for the series, trains wearing the name of head teacher Dale Hardy from a club in Lincolnshire.

Tom Field, who was educated at Churston Ferrers and Torquay Boys’ Grammar Schools, played cricket in the South Devon area for a number of clubs, among them Stoke Gabriel, Dartington & Totnes, Barton Torquay and Paignton.

He played for Devon youth in the later age groups and in 2008 broke the under-16 bowling record by taking seven wickets for 27 runs in a match against the Isle of Wight.

After leaving school Tom studied nursing at Cardiff University for three years, during which he played cricket for St Fagins.

After graduating from university Tom moved to London and took a post at St George’s, which features in the Channel 4 programme 24 hours in A&E. Sharp-eyed viewers will see him in background shots from time to time.

Tom now plays cricket for in the Middlesex Premier League for Twickenham, where Devonians George Yates (ex-Paignton), Josh Mailling (ex-Bovey Tracey and Plympton) and Rhys Davies (ex-Tavistock and Exmouth) are team-mates.

FLASHBACK: Devon Under 16s in 2008. Tom Field is second from the right in the back row. Back (left to right): Joe Smith (coach), P Steer, Steve Lewis, Toby Ingham, Ryan Stevenson, Harry Parkin, Tom Field, Alex Carr. Front: Luke Tuckett, Will Gater, Matt Thompson, Matt Hickey, Jamie Debenham, Miles Lenygon