Michael Hill is well versed in celebrating hundreds for Staffordshire, but a half-century will prove to be just as special this weekend.
The left-handed batsman will make his 50th NCCA Championship appearance for the county in the three-day clash with Suffolk at Stafford, which starts on Sunday (11am).
And that is some achievement for the 33-year-old, given the fact that counties only play four red-ball matches per season these days.
It was six when Hill first dipped his toe into the Staffs senior side, but it’s a pretty safe bet that with the reduction in Championship matches, he will be the last player to reach this particular landmark.
“You grow up through the Staffordshire system and dream of becoming a professional cricketer, but that didn’t happen for me,” said Hill, who plays his club cricket for Meakins in the North Staffs and South Cheshire League.
“So the next best thing is playing minor counties cricket. You play one game, that turns into five, fall in love with it and all of a sudden here we are approaching 50.
Kettleborough looking for Staffordshire to take the lead in county town
“It’s an honour and privilege to play for your home county and it also helps to win a few games along the way. I am a different cricketer now to the one which first came into the side. With age, your mind and body change.
“But I still have that passion and desire to do well and win games. That’s still burning brightly inside me.”
‘Start of the journey’
Hill had played a couple of Championship games for Herefordshire before he made the switch ‘back home’ ahead of the 2014 season.
His Staffs debut arrived in a drawn match against Lincolnshire at Sleaford – and given his subsequent achievements, it was a pretty low-key start for Hill.
He was dismissed for a duck in his first innings and then made 22 second time around, but soon found his rhythm in what turned out to be a brilliant summer.
Staffordshire went on to win the Eastern Division, ending a 16-year wait, and then defeated Wiltshire in the Championship final to lift the overall crown.
And Hill was at the forefront of that effort. He stylishly scored centuries in victories over Bedfordshire and Northumberland to help Staffs to top spot.
And his left-arm seam also delivered a five-wicket haul in the Beds success.
‘Season to remember’
Unsurprisingly, as he reflects on reaching this weekend’s 50, Hill pinpoints his maiden campaign as the one he still remembers vividly.
“The memorable season has to be that first year,” he explained. “It was a special season. We had a really good group of lads and quality cricketers. It was a really well balanced side.
“We hit the ground running, so that was a massive highlight. Coming into minor counties you want to win trophies and to do so in your first season, you think it’s always going to be like that. But teams get to know you and you have to adapt to different situations.
Staffordshire batsman Zen Malik signs for Warwickshire
“It was nice to win the three day competition, especially under the old format of six games because it took a lot of effort and time off work to achieve that.
“I got the two hundreds in 2014 and also a five-for as well. I always want to contribute. These days I am more batting-dominated, whereas then I was more of an all-rounder.
“It’s always nice to come into a new team and show your ability and I felt at ease in the dressing room straight away. I settled in pretty quickly.
‘Confidence’
“There were a few nerves when I first started, but I was also so confident in my game. I was training like a mad man, four or five times a week and the aim was to dominate minor counties cricket and then take the next step.
“I felt ready. You have young guys coming into the side at 18 or 19 now. But I was 23, I knew my game and felt pretty established.
“Myself and a few others had to have a mindset change when it became apparent we weren’t going to make it as professionals.
“You have to shift your thoughts to trying to max out your ability at the level you are at.
“You’re always looking for the next achievement and for me it was becoming the best minor counties player I could be.
“I like to think I’ve left it all out on the field. You want to be established at this level and be respected by opponents.
“The hard thing is staying there and finding those little edges that keep you on top of your game.”
‘Top talent’
There have been disappointments along the way, of course, most notably the agonising one-wicket loss to Berkshire in the 2019 Championship final.
But there’s little doubt that Hill has developed into one of the finest batsmen on the National Counties Cricket Association circuit.
He is the lynchpin in Staffordshire’s middle order and he boasts a remarkable record with the bat.
In his 49 Championship matches for Staffs, Hill has scored 3,704 runs at an average of 50.73.
Staffordshire grit impresses captain James Kettleborough
In fact, it is believed that he is the only batsman in the county’s history be heading into his 50th game with an average north of 50.
Hill has racked up 11 three-day centuries for Staffordshire – his latest being a personal NCCA best of 166 not out in the recent draw with Lincolnshire at Cleethorpes.
It’s not just his batting prowess which has benefited Staffs. His bowling may take more a back seat these days, but he does boast best figures of 7-55 against Norfolk at Manor Park.
‘Key hundreds’
“The one hundred that sticks out in my mind was against Bedfordshire at Longton in 2014,” added Hill, who was also part of the side which won the T20 Cup in 2023.
“We were in a decent amount of trouble and they had a lad who was bowling heat. But we ended up managing to get maximum bonus points.
“I think me and Paul Byrne put on more than 100 for the last wicket.
“The most enjoyable one was a couple of years ago – the 152 against Suffolk at Checkley.
“That was the one where I felt at my peak as a batter. It was enjoyable because everything was in sync.
“I was seeing it like a beach ball. Everything was coming out of the middle of the bat. I felt complete as a batter.
“But it’s always nice to get a big score and a ‘daddy’ hundred like at Lincs. You just have to bat time and you forget how long 90 overs can be.
“You can seem out of rhythm at times, but then click back in. It’s important to see off the new ball, but stay in your bubble and ride it out and then cash in later on.”
‘Impressive record’
Hill has set partnership records along the way – and also has a personal milestone all to himself.
He is the only Staffs batsman to score three successive Championship centuries after back-to-back tons against Lincs at Cleethorpes in 2022 were followed by that century at Checkley.
When Hill first started, he could lean on the likes of Kadeer Ali to help him to develop as a cricketer.
Now, it’s Staffordshire’s young batsmen who are turning to Hill for tips and advice as they start out on their NCCA journey.
“We’ve got a good environment and a great set of lads,” said Hill, who is widely regarded as one of Staffordshire’s best-ever batsmen. “I’m in a different place to 10 years ago and I’m now a senior member of the side.
“I have to show the younger lads how to bat for long periods of time in Championship cricket. Hopefully the young lads saw me at Lincs where I went at one an over for 20 overs, but could then accelerate towards the end.
“I’m more teacher than pupil these days. It’s gone full circle. I’m not realistically going to get any better myself. But I can play my part in helping others to become better.
“The talent right now is up there. The young lads have got to learn their little bits of game awareness.
“It’s about knowing when to sit in and when to attack and I can help them with that.”
‘Runs to score’
Hill insists he doesn’t focus on individual performances as he celebrates a decade of senior Staffordshire service.
And as long as his body plays ball, he’s intent on continuing to score runs for the county.
“I’ve never set personal targets because when I started everything seemed such a long way off,” he said.
“It was unrealistic for me to set them.
“I just want to contribute and be the best batter and role model that I can possibly be.
“Now it’s about winning as many trophies as I can before I finish.
“I’ve not got a finish date in my head. My body is fine and I’m not doing the volume of work a bowler does because I’ve not bowled much in the past two years.
“I’ll take it season by season, but I’d love to win the three-day competition again.”
Main image: Michael Hill will make his 50th NCCA Championship appearance for Staffordshire this weekend.
