Surrey off-spinner Amar Virdi on the brink of becoming the third Sikh to represent England

Amar Virdi admits it took the tough love of Alec Stewart to stop him wasting the rich spinning ability that has now taken him to the brink of the England Test side.

The chances of Virdi becoming only the third player from a Sikh background to represent England after Monty Panesar and Ravi Bopara looked remote when Surrey director of cricket Stewart told him last year his levels of fitness were unacceptable.

Stewart, the fittest of performers himself during a record-breaking England career, dropped Virdi for the first nine matches of the 2019 season and told him he had to shape up if he was to have a future with Surrey, let alone at the highest level.

Amar Virdi has said Alec Stewart’s tough love has taken him to the brink of the England side

Surrey director of cricket Stewart told Virdi last year his fitness levels were unacceptable

But a strict regime put into place by the hulking figure of Surrey fitness coach Darren Veness proved the salvation of a young off-spinner who had announced himself at the Oval with 39 wickets in their championship winning campaign of 2018.

Now a slimline Virdi, still only 21, has reached ‘the minimum levels’ needed to keep up with an England team he describes as ‘the fittest in world cricket’ after this week joining up with them at their Southampton training camp.

‘I don’t think I would have been here now if that hadn’t happened,’ said Virdi of the wake-up call delivered by the Surrey and England legend. ‘I’d always been focused on my bowling and it took something like that to make me realise how important fitness was. 

The 21-year-old Surrey bowler has joined up with England at their Southampton training camp

‘It hurt being left out but Daz Veness is honestly a legend and that’s a phrase I don’t use very often. He’s worked really hard with me, pushed me and shown a lot of belief in me. And the fitness work has had a big impact on my bowling too. It’s something I really look forward to doing now and it’s given me extra motivation and opened my eyes. I definitely need to thank Stewie, Daz and the other coaches at Surrey for what they did.’

England will be thankful too if Virdi now goes on to take that final step and plays Test cricket. The man who grew up idolising Graeme Swann and Panesar is still a work in progress and has plenty to improve in his batting and fielding. But he can bowl and has a reputation as an aggressive, attacking spinner who gives the ball a real rip.

‘I think you have to be aggressive and look to take wickets,’ said Virdi. ‘It’s fundamental to me. Maybe the pitches are not always suited to spin but even at times when I have to keep it tight my eyes are always on taking wickets. Being young I may still bowl the odd loose ball but if you’re attacking you will bowl a lot more wicket-taking deliveries and that’s what makes you dangerous.

And he could be the third Sikh after Ravi Bopara (left) and Monty Panesar to play for England

‘I have fond memories of Graeme Swann ripping through Australia in the Ashes bowling that way,’ continued Virdi from England’s Ageas Bowl bubble. ‘And Monty was an inspiration as well because he looks very similar to me and is from the same community.

‘We’re in a minority in a lot of industries and to see someone progressing and doing well in the field you’re in really motivates you and proves you can do it if they’re doing it.’

That need for more role models at the highest level for the thousands of youngsters from Asian backgrounds playing recreational cricket in England is an acute one. And the son of immigrants from East Africa believes it is partly a question of attitude.

Virdi has also admitted he idolised England off-spinner Graeme Swann when growing up

‘There are so many factors,’ said Virdi when asked why so few talented players from backgrounds like his reach the top with England. 

‘A lot of it is to do with your mind-set and upbringing. A lot of Asian parents support India for example so you can grow up doing what they do. But from a young age I supported England and that’s important.

‘It can also be very daunting for people from minority communities to play for big clubs. I started at Indian Gymkhana which is majority Asian and I found it hard moving to Sunbury which I did at about 12 years old. 

He will now be competing with the likes of Moeen Ali to play the first Test against West Indies 

‘But it was the best move for my cricket because it’s important to play at a level that’s recognised by county clubs. There’s so much potential in so many communities and that definitely needs to be tapped into.’

Now Virdi is competing with Jack Leach, Moeen Ali, Dom Bess and Matt Parkinson for a place in what will be an enlarged 20-man squad for the first Test against West Indies. ‘I definitely want to be playing in the first Test,’ he added.

 ‘If I didn’t want to do that I shouldn’t be here. I’m very proud I’ve got to this level but the next stage is about pushing for that Test place.’