It was August 1982 and after returning to Somerset from Loughborough University, I found myself in the squad to play Hants at Bournemouth. At that time Somerset were the fashionable glitzy county team with 3 superstars of the game in Botham, Richards and Garner. It was a beautiful bank holiday weekend and an expectant crowd looked forward to seeing the titanic struggle between 4 of the great West Indies cricketers of the time – Garner and Richards against the might of Greenidge and a hungry young Marshall driving Hants towards a Championship challenge.
Sitting in the dark, splinter driven Dean Court dressing room the type that got caught in your woollen cricket socks, Brian Rose our Captain, approached me to congratulate me that I was playing.
I strode out to warm up with the rest of the team, trying to avoid any eye contact with Malcolm Marshall as he passed by.
I then heard the tannoy announce that there had been a couple of changes to the teams, for Hampshire Gordon Greenidge returned replacing my school team mate Paul Terry, and at No 3 for Somerset N A Felton (who?) replaces Isaac Alexander Vivian Richards. He said his full name as to emphasise the gravity and disappointment felt beyond the advertising boards. There was a distinctive groan around the ground, papers were put down, hats removed and numerous tea pots as hands were placed on hips.
I was obviously delighted and to my complete shock, Rosey then also informed as I was replacing Viv I would be batting at number 3.
The game was a complete blur, I somehow survived Marshall as he bowled me my first ball in first class cricket. Roebuck welcomed me to the crease, welcoming me to 1st class cricket whilst telling me Marshall was bowling extremely fast. I experienced adrenaline such that I had never felt before or since.
It was the start of an unbelievable journey.
 
Memory added on February 11, 2021
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