In terms of rapid rises up the cricket ladder, the story of Olly Tucker’s season will take some beating.
The 21-year-old started off the summer in Meakins’ second team in North Staffs and South Cheshire League Division Two.
But he’s now preparing to line up for Staffordshire in the NCCA Championship final against Berkshire at West Bromwich Dartmouth this weekend.
It’s a storyline which, if pitched for a book, might well be brushed off as pure fiction.
However, Tucker, pictured, is living proof that seizing opportunities can open doors.
The off-spinning all-rounder made the move to Meakins over the winter after departing Derbyshire County League side Ticknall.
And he has quickly brushed aside the disappointment of not being in Meakins’ first team earlier in the campaign to become a key figure in their Premier A side.
‘Cricket journey’
“Between the age of eight and 17 I was at Newcastle & Hartshill, but I then wanted to try a new environment,” said Tucker.
“I looked at the Premier clubs around here, but a lot of them had overseas spinners. So I was in touch with a coach in Derbyshire and luckily Ticknall had just lost theirs.
“It was definitely challenging playing in the Derbyshire League. The pitches were more difficult for me as they came on for batters and didn’t spin as much. But the overall standard was similar to what we experience in North Staffordshire.
Andy Carr in dreamland as Staffordshire head to final frontier
“I left Ticknall because there was the travelling involved and it was 50 minutes to home matches and then up to two hours for away games.
“There was also the fact that Ticknall were relegated in my last year there.
“I wanted to keep playing Premier League cricket and I got a text from Pete Wilshaw about joining Meakins.”
‘Early shock’
Tucker, having spent that last season playing top-flight cricket for Ticknall, was then given a bit of a shock at Meakins.
Rather than being in the first team, he was selected for the seconds for their season opener away at Crewe on May 4.
But Tucker now believes that gave him an extra edge to prove himself again in local cricket circles.
“It was a bit unexpected to start off the season in the seconds and that wasn’t ideal for me,” explained Tucker.
‘We celebrated winning the division, but there’s one challenge to go’
“But I’ve now had a good rise from the second team through to Staffordshire, so it was probably good for me to take a step back.
“It made me more determined to succeed. I had perhaps gone to the back of people’s minds because I’d been out of the area, so that motivated me to keep improving.”
‘Surprise call’
However, Tucker admits that he was slightly taken aback to receive a call to play for Staffs’ NCCA side.
An injury to fellow spinner Anis Raza on the eve of the penultimate game against Suffolk at Stafford saw Tucker given his chance.
“I wasn’t expecting to be called up for Staffordshire. I felt I was bowling well for my club, but i hadn’t really played any Staffordshire Development stuff. It was nice to get the call,” he added.
Day Three report: Staffordshire are crowned NCCA Division One East champions
“I was very nervous on my debut. It helped that there were a few familiar faces around.
“I played age-group cricket with Rory Haydon and Tom Moulton and obviously know Pete Wilshaw and Michael Hill from Meakins. So it didn’t feel too bad.
“You go from club cricket where there are a few good players to playing against lads who have either just come out of the pro game or are aiming to get there, it’s tough.”
‘Spin to win’
Tucker went wicketless on his Staffs debut, but kept his place in the side for the final divisional game against Buckinghamshire.
A wicket conducive to spin had been prepared and Tucker tucked him as he claimed six wickets in the match.
And there was a feather in the cap as he was the one to take the winning wicket, trapping Tom Weymes lbw, to clinch the Division One East title.
“I might have been a little bit surprised to keep my place for Bucks because my debut didn’t go 100 per cent as I would have liked it to,” explained Tucker.
“I didn’t bowl badly and it was nice to get that second opportunity at High Wycombe. It was up to me to grasp it and I felt I bowled well down there.
“It was a nice surprise to see a spinning wicket there. People had been saying in the build up that it was flat and quite small which is not what you want as a spinner.
“Their left-arm spinner (Connor Haddow) started to turn it early on day one and me and Bretty (Tom Brett) were stood on the balcony licking our lips.
‘Magic moment’
“Speaking to Hilly (Michael Hill), he said he’s been playing for Staffordshire for 10 years and it’s the third time he’s won the division, which shows you have rare and difficult it is to do it.
“It was a nice feeling to take the winning wicket and to do my job and i thought I stuck my hand up and performed well.
“When we took the two wickets before lunch, I wasn’t sure what approach Bucks would take in the afternoon.
“They were very one-way and it was either six or out, which makes it easier as a spinner to pick up wickets rather than them picking up singles for 60 overs.”
Tucker is now turning his attention to adding a new chapter to what has been a fairytale story this summer.
“West Brom will be challenging because Berkshire wrapped up their division pretty convincingly, but I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
“It will be some rise from not expecting a Staffordshire call up to potentially winning the whole competition. It would certainly be the highlight of my career if we can do it.”
