It starts: ‘I’d forgotten my socks. This was important. I’d forgotten the grey marl socks that I’d been told all cricketers had to wear. I had my vest, my Viyella shirt and my cream flannels all packed into my leather bag, but I did not have my socks.

‘My father was a stalwart club cricketer deeply imbued with the traditions and habits of the game. He always wanted me to look like a proper cricketer…’