Family influences
TASK: Read the
experiences of Zesh Rehman
“My father took me to the local cricket club (High Wycombe) when I was 8 to
(the first British Asian to play in
join in with the boys’ colts section. My parents noticed my interest when I
the premiership)
used to chase after the ball whilst my brother was practising in the back
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garden. I started playing girl’s cricket when I was 10, playing Thames Valley
U21 women’s’ cricket by 11 and attending England development trials at 12.
I joined the Ridgeway women’s club team that year and was selected for
A typical experience?
Thames Valley Ladies the following year. I would attend England
development camps in the winter and was selected for Eng U17s when
“Probably not. I know a lot of
I was 15.
young Asian girls that are good at
The next year I was named player of the tournament in the under-19
their sport but give up because
European Championship and in 2002, aged 17, made my ODI and Test
they want to focus more on
debut against India. I continued to play boy’s cricket and really think that
studies.”
helped in my development as a cricketer. My parents were always really
supportive and would drive me here and there to get to training or matches
TASK: Listen to the views of
around the country. They were also involved with the club and dad setup a
Arsene Wenger and Rio
Ladies section so he was a massive influence. Unfortunately there was no
Ferdinand.
cricket at my school so I played my entire cricket at clubs. To be honest it
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was nice to do something outside of school.”
Sport IQ : September 2008 49