THE slight figure trotting out on to the artificial pitch looked familiar — as indeed should any member of the England cricket squad that secured the memorable triumph in the Test series in South Africa last month.
It was not recognising Chris Read on Saturday that made one blink, it was the surroundings in which he was to be found. He was turning out for his local hockey team, South Nottingham, to play in a top-of-the-table encounter against Northampton Lions in the East Midlands first division. Just as he has done for the past four years, Read paid his £7 match fee and shared the transport with some of his team- mates to the club’s home ground at Bingham, near Nottingham.
There was a handful of spectators and the proverbial dog, braving icy conditions to cheer on the home team. “I couldn’t see myself not playing,” Read, who represented Devon at schoolboy and under-21 level, said. “I really enjoy the skill element involved and it keeps me fit and mobile.” Playing at left midfield, Read said that he tries to keep it simple, adding: “Every now and then I do go on a crazy run down the left wing.”
Selected as England’s youngest wicketkeeper, aged 19, against New Zealand in 1999, Read has played 11 Test matches and 28 one-day internationals. However, he has lost his place to Geraint Jones, of Kent, and no longer has an ECB central contract. Read said that it was a cruel blow. “It was very hard not playing in South Africa and I’m particularly disappointed not to have been part of the one-day series because I’ve actually helped win a few games for England, he said. “But being on the tour proves I’m still in the frame. I just need one big score. I’m full of confidence ahead of the season with Nottinghamshire.” Neither is he surprised at the form displayed by Kevin Pietersen, his former county colleague, in the one-day series, describing him as an extraordinary player with an interesting taste in fashion.
Not having a contract with the ECB means that Read no longer has to get permission to play hockey, although in the past he has never been prevented from playing. One of his England team-mates, Robert Key, a prolific scorer at Beckenham, has decided not to play league hockey this season for fear of injury. “Playing hockey keeps my feet on the ground and part of the attraction is bringing things right back to a level,” Read said. “The team all work so hard and it’s ridiculously competitive. One aspect I really enjoy is playing against former National League players who are no longer at the top of their form but who can still give you a tough match.”
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He keeps in touch with the game at international level and is a close friend of Nick Taylor, the Guildford and former England goalkeeper, who was best man at his wedding last year. “I followed hockey at the Athens Olympics and, of course, I remember Sean Kerly and Imran Sherwani from the 1988 Olympic gold medal-winning squad. It’s a real shame there aren’t more household names but the key is success. Great Britian needs to move in the right direction and encourage more media and TV coverage.”
It is not difficult to see why Read revels in his involvement in an amateur sport. Playing alongside him were Chris Tolley, the former Worcestershire and Nottinghamshire all-rounder, Andy and Rob Jenkins, identical twins, and the Lane brothers, Ian and John.
Ian, a goalkeeper, spends his week as a prison warder and it was thanks to his fine display on Saturday, and reversal of roles in keeping them out, which denied Northampton, who twice came from behind to share the spoils 2-2.
For a few minutes late in the second half, it looked as if Read had played a crucial role in helping South Nottingham to secure the points after racing into space down the left flank and providing the perfect pass for his team to go 2-1 ahead. But Northampton levelled and Read was shown a warning card for a reckless diving tackle.
“It was a typically hard contest,” Read said. “But we’re still two points clear at the top and in with a great chance of earning promotion.” And with that, he left to drive the five miles back to the clubhouse for the after-match tea of sandwiches and sausage rolls.