Aldwick cricketer is national bowling champion

He hardly bowled for Aldwick last summer '“ but now Ian Guppy is a national bowling champion.

His route to stardom started when he won a competition to go and see England’s one-day international with Pakistan at the Rose Bowl and, while he was there, entered the NatWest Pro Bowl competition.

His efforts made him the fourth best adult in the country in the competition, which put him through to the finals at Lord’s.

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His day at HQ, with 32 other finalists, began with a warm-up coaching session and then the adults’ bowl-off.

“I was up against six other qualifiers who were much much faster then me, but I was told by the coaches it was more about accuracy so I focused on being straight and not fast,” said Guppy.

“I had three deliveries measured by Hawkeye, so it was very very accurate.”

Guppy’s first ball was good but went over the stumps but his second hit middle and off. He turned to his dad and said: “That’s the one to win it for me.”

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The third ball was the perfect yorker and hit the bottom of the stumps, with the watching coach telling Guppy: 
“No-one will beat that.”

But then a competitor from Halifax bowled a delivery which all present thought was even better – and Guppy thought his chance was gone.

He added: “After the competition I got to bowl at Michael Vaughan in the nets and took advice from Stuart Broad and Steven Finn.

“My second ball to Vaughan had him playing outside his off stump and he fished and missed. Broady gave him some cracking banter and commented that the ball was ‘dangling the carrot’ and beat him all ends up. I didn’t get him out but one under-15 lad bowled him first ball so he was beatable.

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“At the end of the session we had the presentation and I was in no way expecting to win. When they announced I had won it I was totally surprised and actually couldn’t believe it.

“I won a medal that says I’m the national champion, plus Natwest England clothing – and they are sending me some more prizes in the post.”

The Rocks fan added: “It was a great day out and I was back for the second half of the Rocks’ game against Croydon so I saw us progress in the FA Trophy.”

Last summer Guppy bowled just 15.3 overs for Aldwick and took three wickets. Looks like he might get a few more next year...