Athletic Roots
Tom Hartley, recently named as one of the spinners in England's Test squad for the upcoming tour in India, has always had big shoes to fill. As the son of former Great Britain 400m runner Bill Hartley, who won gold in the 1974 European Championships, Tom has been inspired by his father's sporting success.
Cricket Career
At just 24 years old, Tom already has two England ODI caps to his name. He made his ODI debut for England in September and has taken 40 first-class wickets at an impressive average of 36.57. Tom was also part of the England Lions squad that trained in the United Arab Emirates last month.
Following in His Father's Footsteps
In an interview with The Cricketer, Tom expressed his desire to continue the family's sporting legacy. He shared that his father, who had a successful athletics career, never pressured him to pursue the same path. Instead, Bill supported Tom's decision to pursue cricket and has been a constant source of guidance and inspiration.
Bright Future Ahead
Tom's cricket career continues to soar. In April 2022, he was bought by the Manchester Originals for the 2022 season of The Hundred. Now, he is set to be part of England's Test squad for their upcoming tour in India. The first match is scheduled to take place in Hyderabad on Thursday, 25th January. With his talent and family legacy, Tom Hartley is a rising star to watch.
