On a Chepstow Backyard, English Cricket’s “Four-Dimensional” Prodigy Emerges
It was during carefree backyard battles with his younger brother James that Glamorgan all-rounder Ben Kellaway, now 20, stumbled upon the unique talent that has propelled him to becoming English cricket’s first four-dimensional player.
Reminiscing on those COVID-era family games, Kellaway recalls how they would “get pretty inventive” in their sibling rivalry, utilizing basketball hoops and batting nets to create an unconventional setup. The challenge: to hit unusual target areas when batting and, most remarkably, to deliver the ball with both right and left arms when bowling – switching seamlessly from his regular off-spin to slow left-armers and back again.
“After that summer, I kind of put it on hold for a while, just messed about with it a bit in the nets with a couple of the boys throughout the next couple of winters,” Kellaway tells Mail Sport. But it was only last year, when new Glamorgan coach Grant Bradburn encouraged him to “really kick on with that”, that the true potential of this once-in-a-lifetime skill began to emerge.
Late last month, Kellaway made history, becoming the first man to claim wickets with each arm in a county innings since 1980. The feat has earned him a growing reputation, with Bradburn praising his “four-dimensional” abilities that encompass aggressive batting, sleek fielding, and two distinct bowling styles.
As Kellaway continues to refine this unique talent, his development is one to closely follow. With the ECB’s support, the young all-rounder could well redefine the boundaries of what’s possible in the sport of cricket.
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