First published in 2016

All bets are on

First professional contract | Leicestershire | 1985

The first significant moment in my career was signing a contract with Leicestershire at the age of 17 and mixing with players of the calibre of David Gower and Peter Willey. Ken Higgs [Leicestershire coach] spotted me at a training session and taught me the skills I would need to become a professional cricketer – otherwise I don’t think I would have made it. After a couple of weeks of training Ken told me I was going to play for England. We had a bit of a wager and I bet him that if I did play for England I’d give him half my salary. I figured either which way I was going to win!

Slaying the Dragons

63, 2-34 & 4-85 | Glamorgan 2nd XI v Leicestershire 2nd XI, 2nd XI Championship, Cardiff | 1987

To be told by someone like Ken that he thought I was going to play for England took a bit of digesting. Only a few months before I didn’t even necessarily think I’d be a professional cricketer. Of course you like to think you’re good enough, but you don’t know until you actually go and do it. The defining moment that year was my first second XI game, against Glamorgan, when I scored a fifty and took some wickets. Becoming a professional seemed a big jump and I wasn’t sure I was ready, but that was confirmation I was good enough.

England calling

1-30 | West Indies v England, 1st ODI, Trinidad | 1990

This was probably the proudest moment in my whole cricketing experience, putting on the England cap for the first time. I wasn’t initially on the tour, I was called up as a replacement for Middlesex fast bowler Ricky Ellcock, and the thrill was not necessarily knowing if I would play. To be picked was further confirmation that I was ready.

Taking it to the Windies

13 & 65, 6-111 & 0-45 | England v West Indies, 4th Test, Edgbaston | 1991

I’d been dropped and this was my comeback, so it was important that I performed. I scored a fifty [from No.10] and took a six-fer, which remained my best bowling figures in a Test match. The question was asked many times how England’s Caribbean-born players felt about playing West Indies but we’re talking about sport: I’m allowed to beat anybody up in sport, aren’t I? Having grown up in Guyana, it made me want to impress even more.

World Cup woe

0-52 & 0 | England v Pakistan, World Cup final, Melbourne | 1992

This was probably the best one-day team I played in. I thought we were the best team in the competition so it was so disappointing to lose in the final. I suppose that defeat ruined my year really – whenever people talk about 1992 it tends to be the World Cup final, and it’s about us losing and me getting out first ball [playing on to a Wasim Akram inswinger]. Begrudgingly, 20 years later, yeah… it was a good ball! It’s the quality of the man: two fantastic balls that changed the course of the World Cup.

I had wonderful times at Surrey, winning the Sunday League and the Benson & Hedges Cup. I think I played quite a part in the victory in both those competitions. I remember my first over went for about 13 [in the B&H final] and when I went to field at fine-leg I decided I was going to simply run in and throw the ball down as quickly as I could. It worked out and we had the best day at Lord’s. Ben Hollioake made it quite simple for us. He was the only batsman that day who made the wicket look really easy.