DOM SIBLEY’S family were celebrating a cash windfall of 21,000 after he scored his maiden Test century.
The money came from a bet placed by his grandfather in 2011 that young Dom would play cricket for England.
Kenneth Mackenzie, Sibley’s maternal grandad, had a couple of punts at odds of 150-1 and then again at 66-1 when Sibley was 16.
Although Mr.Mackenzie died in 2011, the family found the betting slips and the bookies have paid up.
It was a smart bet because Sibley showed his potential from an early age, scoring a double-hundred in the top grade Surrey Championship club league at the age of 15.
The Warwickshire opener made his Test debut against New Zealand late last year and his first century came with 133 not out against South Africa in the Second Test.
Sibley’s mum, Christine, said: “Dad would have been so proud of Dom’s achievements so watching him was tinged with sadness.
“Dom was five when he originally said he could play for England. When he was playing for the under-9s, dad asked William Hill about the odds. He went back a few years later and they honoured the bets.”
A spokesman for William Hill said: “This is a record pay-out for this sort of bet involving a cricket protege. Dom clearly made a great impression on his adoring grandfather.”
