Olly Westbury: End of an era... but my cricket dream goes on

As a young boy it was always my dream to play professional cricket.

I discovered this passion as a consequence of Andrew Flintoff’s talismanic performances in the 2005 Ashes. At the time I was blissfully unaware of the effects it would have on shaping my future as I started out at Himley CC.

Years later, I played cricket for the love of the game. I played for the satisfaction of hitting the ball out of the middle of the bat. I played for the feeling of accomplishment after making a half-century.

Yet after successful seasons at county age group cricket and a fruitful Bunbury Festival at 15, I found myself in Worcestershire’s academy. It was apparent that there could be a career in the game.

Towards the end of my time on the academy, I thought my days were numbered. I was never the most talented player in the pathway system and when you combine this with a couple of mediocre seasons, you find yourself at the bottom of a long list of batters. What I did have was an ability to graft hard and concentrate for long periods. In 2015, I scored six centuries in schoolboy cricket and my maiden second team hundred for Worcestershire. I remember it clearly, it was a three-day game against Nottinghamshire and it was without a doubt a turning point for me.

The proudest moment of my cricketing career so far is the 196 I made for England under-19s against Sri Lanka.

I was selected because of my good form in second team cricket that year.

I had also had a successful period playing in Australia the previous winter. For both myself and my family it was an incredibly proud moment and my weight of runs was recognised by Worcester as they offered me my first professional contract.

As soon as your hobby becomes your job, the stakes are higher. When your career and your income depends on it, the highs and lows hit you harder. I continued to score runs consistently in red ball cricket.

However, the T20 format did not come naturally to me. It was my stubbornness and patience that allowed me to bat for two or three sessions in order to make a hundred. However, white ball cricket was a completely different story, I did not have the skillset that the modern cricketer needs to be three dimensional. It was tough and there was a lot of work to be done. Over the course of 2018, I figured out a way to be successful in T20 cricket. I scored heavily in the second team in white and red ball cricket.

Bizarrely, after all my battles with it, I made my debut for Worcestershire in the T20 Blast. I made a relatively assured 24 off 16 balls and after years of battling with this format, I was extremely proud of this achievement. We went on to win the competition. It was a pleasure to be 12th man and watch the boys go about their business at Edgbaston. It was a day and night I will never forget.

I made my first-class debut in the same season. Playing against Surrey at this time was a challenge in its own right.

They were about to run away with the Division One County Championship title. I only played two first-class games, but my four dismissals were eventful. I got a fabulous delivery from Tom Curran, I played a horrendous slog to Amir Virdi, I was involved in a comical run out and I also had a dubious LBW decision given against me.

Unfortunately, my career at Worcester rather stagnated from there. I returned to the UK following a successful spell in New Zealand. I’d performed well out there and I was hoping this would put me in contention to play the first game of the season. Sadly, I failed a ‘yo-yo fitness’ test, which is a bit like timed shuttle runs with decreasing time intervals to make the distance. I was really disappointed with myself. I felt like I had worked hard on my fitness while I was away, but the test results suggested otherwise.

There was a new coach and our personalities clashed, which is not uncommon in a professional sporting environment. Our regular pre-season tour looked different for me.

While the group were training, myself and Joe Leach (who was injured at the time) were flogged in the Abu Dhabi sun.

Despite my close friends doing their best to make me feel included, I felt completely worthless and lonely. I remember breaking down in tears to Leachy as I could no longer contain my emotions.

He is a great guy. I’m grateful for the support he and others gave me at what was a very challenging time.

I have myself to blame for what happened next. On returning to the UK, I felt sorry for myself. As an inexperienced 21-year-old I had taken what had happened personally. I found myself spiralling further out of control. I was mentally shot and devoid of any confidence.

The PCA recommended I see a sports psychologist to try to get me back on track. I did rediscover some form towards the back end of the season but by this point thought it was too late. I approached the 2020 season with nothing to lose. Worcester had told me they no longer wanted me but I still had a year left on my contract. I was determined to change opinions. I was lucky. Not everybody gets a second chance to get it right. Sadly, the pandemic put an end to all sport. When it returned in July, second team cricket was not the priority.

I fought hard to the end. I actually scored runs in the cricket that I played. However, the inevitable news came at the end August… Worcester were not going to renew my contract.

I look back at my time with Worcester with huge fondness. I watch the team now like another fan rather than a team-mate.

The club have given me so many memories along with the opportunity to fulfil my dream to play professional sport.

They are a great set of lads. Nothing would give me more joy than seeing them go on to achieve great success.

My time since leaving the club very has been relaxing. I have done things that I have not been able to do for so long. I am unsure what the future holds for me.

I have a huge passion for sports media and I love writing.

However, there is a part of me that still thinks I can make it in professional cricket and I maybe owe it to myself to see where this could take me…