Towering fast bowler from England, Reece Topley speaks with calm and composure. Sports has always been a part of the 6’7’’ Suffolk-born’s life and he likes to keep active and considers time spent in nature as meditation. Ahead of the second ODI against Australia, the 30-year-old chatted with t2 from Manchester. Excerpts.
How has cricket shaped your life?
I think sports in general benefits everyone’s life because it teaches you about trying your best and getting everything out of your ability, working hard, and being gracious in times when things aren’t going your way. I think it teaches you about humility. There are so many crossovers between cricket and life. I don’t know what I’d be doing if I wasn’t a cricketer. It allows you to go and see the world, which is a privilege. Sometimes when I am on tour and I get to experience a country, I really relish getting to experience different cultures and environments.
How old were you when you started playing cricket?
As long as I can remember I was playing a sport, whether it was cricket or soccer, rugby or basketball... athletics. There was always something in my hands when I was young, whether I was at school or home. A tennis racquet or a hockey stick. I played my first competitive match at seven or eight and then professionally, at 16. I haven’t really looked back since.
Who or what inspired you to pursue cricket?
It was so strange. I went to a boarding school where you spend all your time. It was crazy that I was playing while at school, professionally. I didn’t even have the time where I could sit back and ask myself what do you want to be when you are older. It was when I was 15 that a car arrived at school to take me to an Essex second XI game. To be honest, I didn’t really know that I was being paid because I was still at school....
I guess when I was 18-19, I realised, well, this is what I do now. I never ever sat back and gave it a thought that I was going to be a cricketer when I was older. It happened before I knew it really. I guess, I was lucky in that sense.
Who did you idolise?
I kind of didn’t look at any cricketer. Zaheer Khan was always someone my dad wanted me to watch. He was always saying that you have to bowl like this or watch what he does. I loved watching basketball, so Kobe Bryant was my hero. He still is, in a way, my hero.
What do you do to maintain your posture?
Even if I didn’t play cricket, I love going to the gym and staying active. So, a lot of gym work, Pilates and yoga. It’s always like the best investment in yourself.
What is the conversation like when times are difficult?
It’s difficult because it is never something that you achieve 100 per cent. It’s not a checklist where it’s a tick or a cross. It’s more like a sliding scale. There are times when you slip back and you need to do the same things where you cope and manage it. Ice baths are something I love to do in the mornings. That really benefits me. Or, going to the gym. I love going on hikes when I am on a holiday. That gives you clarity and it is my kind of meditation.
You have played with Virat Kohli at Royal Challengers Bengaluru. What is it about his dedication that has stayed with you?
He is obviously someone I had played against. So, you don’t really get to see the behind the scenes when you are in the opposition. He only gives to the environment. You can only look up to what he has achieved and see how desperate he is to work hard and that’s infectious among the group. That’s one thing I took back from my time at RCB is how the best ever is still the hungriest. He kind of makes you think that what have I achieved in my career in comparison and how do I not have as much will and desire as he does. That’s something that I have always taken with me and that’s going to serve me well in future.
What remains your biggest dream?
My biggest dream would be to play 100 games for England cumulatively. Another would be to deliver the first championship (IPL) with Bangalore. That would be amazing.
