Carberry: 'I almost quit before Test call-up'

The next English batsman in line for a Test debut almost gave up cricket five years ago. Michael Carberry, who has replaced the resting Andrew Strauss for the series against Bangladesh, became so disenchanted after being ignored at Kent that he almost packed in the game entirely. Now, five years later, he is on the brink of wearing the three lions.

"I was pretty close to quitting," he told Cricinfo. "Those who are closest to me know the tough time I had at Kent, not through lack of performances but because my face didn't fit and they messed me about quite a lot for three years. I'd reached age 24 and you start looking around and seeing other guys getting a chance.

"I was pretty despondent. I came home one day from training and said to my Mum: 'I've had enough of this.' I'd worked really hard, trained well, and was batting as well as I ever have - getting runs in club and 2nd XI cricket - yet was still being ignored and had just had enough."

After another season banished to the second XI he was at the end of his tether, but some common-sense talk from those Carberry trusted persuaded him to explore the other opportunities that were out there. Hampshire provided the most attractive offer and it quickly became a mutually beneficial relationship.

"People who are close to me, especially Alex Tudor who is probably my best mate, basically said 'stop talking nonsense' and told me to keep trying. By the end of 2005 I hadn't played a first-class game for two years so I started applying to various counties and Hampshire came in.

"I think I was averaging around 40 so I clearly wasn't useless. But I was at the stage where it was first-team cricket or nothing and I said if I don't cut it in two years then fair enough."

In his first season with Hampshire he averaged an underwhelming 36.07, but in 2007 he passed 1000 runs with an average of over 50 to put him on the selectors' radar. He toured India with the England Lions but, as so often happens when greater honours are getting closer, he slumped the following summer with a campaign that brought 815 runs and just one hundred. In 2009, however, he put that right as he surged to 1251 runs at 69.50 before an untimely broken finger ended his season and left Carberry wondering whether that would quash his England hopes.

"To be honest I did think it had probably ditched my chances," he said. "Even to get into the Lions squad, forget the full squad, I needed a 1500-run season but I suppose enough word got around. By that stage I'd kind of put the Lions towards one side and got back to me - just focusing on my game and being as good as I could for Hampshire. Through 2009 I played cricket in that frame of mind, if things happened then great and I'd have exceeded most people's expectations."

Carberry's chance almost came two weeks ago in Cape Town after he'd been summoned - from the midst of a post-Christmas lie in - back to South Africa from the depths of the English winter as cover for Paul Collingwood, who had fractured a finger in practice. It would have taken an amputation to keep Collingwood out of the Test, however, so Carberry was instead left carrying the drinks and absorbing his first experience around the senior squad.

"Seeing how the guys prepare, the stuff you don't see on TV, netting with England bowlers and things like that, it's been fantastic," he said. "It did come as a bit of surprise, but I've got good runs in the past. It's what I've been working towards for 12 years and I make no apologies for getting picked.

"I've worked hard enough for it and will just enjoy the experience. At least I now know my hopes and ambitions are closer to becoming a reality. That's the thing that has hit me more than anything. You aren't just talked about as a potential England player any more - you get the white lions on your helmet instead of the red ones."

Carberry suggested that his rise towards the England squad owes a lot to playing alongside Shane Warne at Hampshire. He said Warne was the type of captain he needed and allowed him to play a no-fear brand of cricket, rather than worrying how he was going to ensure he stayed in the side - players' self-preservation is a criticism often thrown at county cricket.

"He's had a massive influence on me and played a huge role," Carberry said. "He was the perfect captain for me, he was attacking and encouraged me to go out and express myself. Don't be scared of failure - and suddenly I found a new lease of life. As a kid I was a naturally attacking batsman, but when you are playing for your spot you start playing to get another game. Shane took that element away."

Even though he is now within touching distance of a Test debut, however, he isn't taking anything for granted and will remember the tough lessons he learnt earlier in his career.

"I'm 29 now so I'm pretty in control of my emotions. I'm someone who doesn't try to put themselves on a pedestal; I just focus on playing cricket. I take the attitude of whatever will be, will be."