September 2010 became a difficult month for me this year. Having had eight consecutive Championship games under my belt, I had really started to feel like I was finding my feet in Division one cricket. Walking off the field in pain, at the end of a hard fought draw against Yorkshire up at Scarborough, wasn’t what I was either hoping for or needing at the time. I had been bowling well but luck wasn’t to be on my side. There is never a good time to get injured but equally, every cloud has a silver lining. It is a fairly clichéd way of looking at things but it has meant that I have been able to pursue other avenues and develop skills outside of cricket. Which if I’m being honest, have taken me completely out of my comfort zone.

It was the beginning of September and I had quite possibly the full spectrum of emotions flying around my head each one vying for top spot. I was feeling very sorry for myself (self pity is never an admiral trait!) mix this in with anger, and a fair bit of disillusionment and it all came back to “what if”? What if I hadn’t got injured, I could have played the last three Championship games. What if I wasn’t injured I could be heading off to the beautiful sunshine of Australia to play in the winter. What if, what if. It’s fair to say none of these emotions play a positive part in day to day living and it was a good thing I was told to snap out of it pretty fast, but also that I was given the opportunity to snap out of it.

I had been summoned into the Rose Bowl to hear the verdict on my recent scan. I already knew that I had a problem with my back however what I was waiting on was the implications it would have on my winter. I had already resigned myself to my fate. My brief discussion with the specialist two weeks previously gave me some indication that it could take a while. It is safe to say I wasn’t feeling all that vibrant.

This particular day the ECB and PCA personal development coach happened to be in the executive club and hauled me over. She’s great and having got to know me over the last few years knows when something’s on my mind or to be completely blunt when I need a good kick up the backside! Today was most certainly one of those days. We chatted for an hour and I was told in no uncertain terms to stop wallowing in my own self pity and we laid out a plan for my winter, a plan that unknown to me would end up presenting some great opportunities.

One of the opportunities we discussed was a role within the Hampshire’s academy programme. With my personal development coach’s ever increasing work with the ECB and the Counties she thought it would be a fantastic if James Tomlinson and I could present the ECB personal development workshops throughout the winter. So a winter of personally developing the future Hampshire stars! What an honour if not a slightly daunting prospect!

As soon as this opportunity arose, another one presented itself which was starting to really fill up my winter plans fairly rapidly and was reducing my time in front of Jeremy Kyle and Homes under the hammer. A scary thought I know. The opportunity in question was a role in the LCA Cricket Coaching Company. I was already good friends with the two founders, having played cricket with and against them previously. The opportunity just seemed to make sense, to be more involved with them helped me achieve my goal in working up through my coaching qualifications and as I had already done some work previously on some of their courses it was a good fit for me.
Little did I realise that this opportunity would have a huge impact on my life outside of professional cricket. I had to now set about working my way up the coaching levels and gaining more and more experience in other areas.

So far there has to be no complaints, although the lads in the office would probably disagree, I am thoroughly enjoying all the challenges that are flying my way thick and fast. Let’s not also forget, I’ve had to fit my rehab sessions in as well, unfortunately casting Eastenders out the window! Having to combine my rehab back to full fitness, my other Hampshire commitments, coaching and organising a coaching company as well as presentation, writing and delivering Academy Workshops has meant a VERY busy winter so far but one thing I can say is it’s been incredibly enjoyable.

One thing I have realised through injury and combining other challenges outside of cricket, it that as a professional player it is never wise to rest on your loral’s and think that the incredible life I lead will last forever. I am incredibly lucky to play cricket professionally but like anything there is a life span to it. Looking to your future is important and I’m certainly very lucky to have other involvements outside of the game.