Reece Topley: Moving to Hampshire has improved my England chances

There can be no bigger cricketing culture shock than going from that unforgettable defeat against the West Indies - which was watched by a tumultuous crowd of 66,000 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata - to  a typically damp start to the English domestic season.

But Topley is relishing life as a Hamphire player.

With the start of this latest chapter in his career underway, it is quite something to consider the experience Topley has gained since his move from Essex was confirmed on September 1.

The 6ft 7in left-armer had been an England international less than 24 hours, having made his debut in the post-Ashes T20 win against Australia at Cardiff on August 31.

He has since played another 15 internationals - and is only just 22.

“I’ve learnt more over the last nine months than in the rest of my career,” he says, showing no sign of weariness after a day fulfilling numerous interview requests at Hampshire’s pre-season presser.

“I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity so young. I’m living the dream, sometimes I have to pinch myself.”

With 16 wickets at 25.6 in ten ODIs, including 4-50 to help put England 2-0 up against South Africa in Port Elizabeth two months ago, Topley has already made his mark on the big stage in the 50-over format.

Topley appeals for a wicket on the way to taking his ODI-best 4-50 against South Africa in February

The 3-24 he took in his second T20 international against Pakistan in November helped England win the first of three short-form matches in the UAE, a run of games which ended with Hampshire captain James Vince named man of the series.

“I like to think I’ve taken my opportunities in the one-day format,” continues Topley, who did not enjoy such a happy time of it at the World T20.

Dropped after conceding 22 from 2.1 overs against the West Indies and then 33 from two against South Africa three weeks ago, Topley has experienced the reality of life as a T20 bowler.

“It hasn’t gone exactly as I would have liked,” he admits.

“I’ve learnt all sorts from a game scenario; how to counteract a dominant batsman when bowling at world-class players like [AB] de Villiers, Afridi and Shoaib Malik, and from experiencing powerplays and death bowling.

“It’s tough but the skill is to turn bad days into average days.”

Reece Topley after conceding successive sixes against South Africa's JP Duminy at the WT20 last month

The battering that Topley took against South Africa ended with Joe Root-inspired England chasing down 230 on an enthralling night at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

But disappointment for Topley soon followed.

“In the first two games the plans I tried to execute didn’t really work and I lost my place in the side.

“I’ve never had a setback like that, it’s the first time in my career I’ve not been selected for a team and I didn’t like it.

“Being a part of that trip and sharing in the boys’ success was great, but when I was in my hotel room in India it played on my mind what I could have done differently in the two games I did play.

“But, as [England coach] Trevor Bayliss would say, I got up the next morning and was still breathing.

“The beauty of being young means I’ll hopefully I’ll get more opportunities.”

With England’s next white-ball matches two-and-a-half months away, Hampshire can look forward to having Topley for up to six Championship matches as well as the start of their Natwest T20 Blast and Royal London One-Day Cup campaigns.

Reece Topley (far right) alongside Hampshire teammates Chris Wood and Joe Weatherley at the county's pre-season press day (Picture by Chris Moorhouse)

“Hampshire and myself are a good fit,” says Topley.

“Hampshire have had a lot of success in the white-ball format and hopefully I can help keep it that way.

“I also want to develop as a four-day cricketer and Hampshire are developing in that form of the game.

“We have a have similar ambition and it’s a side I’ve admired for a while.

“Having played against them I know what sort of characters they have and how hard they are to beat.”

Topley, whose dad Don took 336 first-class wickets at 28 for Essex from 1985-94, says deciding to move to Hampshire was surprisingly easy.

“It’s a big move, I captained Essex under 8s and obviously my father played for them too.

“It was harder for him, he was sleepless about it because I’d grown up playing there.

“But I’m quite unemotional and maybe naive because I’m young and had no qualms about leaving.

“I’m very career-driven and me being here is better for my England chances.”

Reece Topley bowling during a practice session before last week's World T20 final in Kolkata 

Topley, who has taken 125 wickets at 25.78 in the 31 first-class matches he played, is relishing the prospect of playing for Hampshire alongside the likes of former Essex teammate Adam Wheater as well of course as Vince and Dawson.

“Having three players who can share the experience and mindset of Eoin Morgan and Trevor Bayliss’s brand of cricket can only be a good thing,” continued Woolston-based Topley, who is effusive when his captain’s name is mentioned, as he recalls conceding a 222-ball 240 to Vince in Essex's 470-run defeat at The Ageas Bowl two years ago.

“Vincey is the hardest English batsman I’ve bowled against in any form of cricket.

“It’s a bonus to be in the same side, he’ll have a long career with England and Hampshire.

“I’ve spent a lot of time with him on England programmes but never thought the day would come when I was speaking to him as my captain!

“He’s a very fast learner and has so much experience already.”

So too has Liam Dawson, whose stellar winter with the England Lions was rewarded with a surprise call-up to the World T20 squad.

“Daws’ is an exceptional cricketer, a brilliant batsman and his spin’s come on leaps and bounds,” continues Topley.

Reece Topley in T20 action for Essex against Sussex at Hove last year

“When he came to Essex last year I couldn’t believe he wasn’t in the Hampshire side.

“We never imagined we’d be playing together the following season but as soon as he came back he did really well. Daws is that sort of guy, he’s feisty.

“You can throw him the ball at any stage and he can come up trumps, whether it’s turning or not, because he’s a battler.”

As Topley’s last pre-season interview comes to a close, his new-ball partnership with the skiddier Fidel Edwards draws near.

It is a genuinely exciting prospect.

Whether Hampshire have enough strength in depth to mount a serious challenge for the title is doubtful.

But as Topley leaves he raises that tantalising thought, joking that the right arm that was to feature a tattoo of the World T20 silverware may yet bear an inked image of the Specsavers County Championship trophy.