Former Test star Read goes back to his roots with an outing for Paignton 3rd XI

Flashback! Chris Read batting for Devon against Shropshire in 2017, shortly before he retired from First Class cricket

FORMER England cricketer Chris Read went back to his roots last Saturday when he turned out for Paignton 3rdXI against Hatherleigh.

The Tolchards DCL F Division West game at Shebbear College might have been a far cry from Lord’s, Sabina Park in Jamaica, the Oval or the MCG – some of the Test venues Read played on in his prime.

But it was in similar surroundings to the college ground that Read the teenager cut his cricketing teeth, playing South Devon League cricket for Paignton 3rdXI.

"I can remember being around 12 years old and going down to Plymouth to make my debut for Paignton 3rd XI," said Read.

"I was batting at nine and remember being offended when all the fielders came up and gathered round me in the expectation I would not hit the ball very far.

"They were right, but I was still offended!"

Keeper-batter Read went on to appear more than 50 times for England in all three formats of the game and made in excess of 22,000 runs during a pro career that lasted from 1995-2017. He won Lord’s finals and County Championships too as captain of Nottinghamshire.

Paignton is Read’s home town club and it is a rare summer when he does not turn out for one of the teams while on holiday visiting family. On this occasion son Caleb was also in the Paignton side, although neither could do much to prevent Hatherleigh winning by three wickets.

Nick Rogers, the Hatherleigh chairman, played in the game and praised Read for his level-headed contribution.

“Chris did all the right things,” said Rogers.

“Instead of coming in early and murdering our bowling he waited until 10.

“Chris blocked the good balls and hit the bad ones – and had there been more batting to come he probably would have got a decent score. He just ran out of people to bat with.

"When we batted Caleb kept wicket for the first half and Chris took over after that."

Read’s 14 not out was the second-best score for Paignton, who were bowled out for 82. Only Henry Milton (19) made more

Fred Batt (4-21) was Hatherleigh’s leading wicket taker.

Paignton made Hatherleigh work hard for a three-wicket win, which they finally achieved in the 33rd over. Paignton’s Jack Hemus took three for 10 and there were two more wickets for former Devon all-rounder Tim Ward.

There at the end on 18 not out from 63 balls was chairman Rogers.

TOMORROW... Conrad Sutcliffe chats to Chris Read about life after professional cricket