Carberry credits Fraser for England call up

By Steven Downes

IF MICHAEL Carberry is in the runs on England's forthcoming cricket tour to Bangladesh, it will be because he has got in to the running back at home in south London, with the help of an Olympic medal-winning friend.

FIGHTING FIT: Michael Carberry's training regime has paid dividends as he is called up to the
England squad (Getty Images)

Carberry has gone from nearly quitting cricket altogether to being on the verge of his first England Test cap, a revitalisation he puts down to some degree to track training with 400-metre international athlete Donna Fraser. 

The 29-year-old Hampshire batsman was called up as cover for Paul Collingwood during the recent Test series in South Africa.

With Andrew Strauss rested for the Bangladesh tour that starts later this month, he is expected to open the batting alongside stand-in captain Alistair Cook.

That's a startling turnaround in fortunes for a batsman who a couple of summers ago could not even get a game with the Kent first XI.

Track sprinting and running sessions back at his family home near Thornton Heath with Fraser and Croydon Harriers have helped Carberry achieve fitness in the cricket off-season that has coincided with the revival of his career.

 "I was pretty close to quitting," Carberry admitted after being named in the England tour party.

"Those who are closest to me know the tough time I had at Kent, not through lack of performances but because my face didn't fit and they messed me about quite a lot. I was pretty despondent," said the former England under-19 and Surrey player.