ECB Coaches Association links Hitting the Seam 39 | Page 11

“My father would take me along
to his weekend and evening
games as an eight year old. A
savvy and skilful medium pacer,
he showed me how enjoyable
this wonderful game can be.
“Watching him play, I also
witnessed friendships and
teamwork develop at a time
when not many people from
South Asian backgrounds were
involved in league cricket.
“My father played in a couple
of leagues. One of which was
called the Quaid E Azam
League, in which only Asians
played, and the other was the
Bradford League where, at
that time, the teams where
predominantly made up of
white players. Watching my
dad go about his business and,
in two completely different
environments, not only compete
as a team but perform as an
individual, and seeing the
emotions and energies that
came with playing, I guess it
was then that I found love for
the game of cricket.”
Ajmal’s rise was swift, moving
from the Bradford League to
Yorkshire Academy and the
Yorkshire Second XI, where he
earned his first professional
contract aged 18.
“I had become the first
British-born Asian to represent
Yorkshire CCC,” Ajmal recalls,
proudly. “After a few injury
setbacks, I represented the
England Lions in 2008/9 and in
2010, I made my England debuts
both in Test matches and in
One-Day Internationals.
“I parted ways with Yorkshire
in 2013 to join Nottinghamshire
and in 2014 we won the Pro40
One-Day competition. In 2015
I joined Sussex and after a
blistering start at my new club,
I was hit by a few injuries which
resulted in me missing the rest
of the 2015 season. In 2017 I
left Sussex.”
Far from being a big shot
heading to a new county
keen to blow in and blow
back out again, Ajmal was
a model professional, as
Sussex’s Director of Cricket
Keith Greenfield noted on his
departure.
“Ajmal’s attitude has always
been exemplary and he has
been a great role model for the
youngsters at the club,” he said.
Now, that positive outlook
and years of experience are
increasingly being put to use in
the coaching arena, where his
skills are increasingly in demand.
“I’m currently the First XI Coach
at Ampleforth College, York and
also Assistant One-Day Coach
with the MCC YCs, headed up
by Steve Kirby,” Ajmal says.
“I also play and coach at
my local cricket club and
am still very much in the
hunt for a professional
cricketing contract!”
in Bradford, where his father
ensured that cricket was never
far from his life.
Ajy’s Road
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