From The Guardian, a strange note about the rise of an all-rounder (or rather, a batsman who can bowl to the ‘keeper without making it, uh, bounce twice):
“I was an opening batsman up until 17. I played all my Leicestershire age group as an opening batsman. Then I had a bizarre growth spurt at 17 and a half when I went to Australia to play club cricket. That winter I grew six inches. Suddenly from dobbing it on a length at medium pace it was carrying through and bouncing.
“Within seven or eight months I was making my first-class debut. I got offered a contract at Leicester as a No5 or No6 batter who bowled first change with the keeper standing up. Then the next year I was batting at 11 and opening the bowling.”
Ducking Beamers: A Cricket Blog 