Yet, from a young age, his interests leaned more towards hockey and cricket.
Vickery began his sporting career in Somerset’s U9 cricket team and has since represented Somerset at each of the progressive age group teams.
At the age of 16, Vickery decided to take on cricket as his main sport and made his debut for Somerset second team against Hampshire.
Although, school cricket took preference, he managed to play for the county during the holidays.
With a top score of 105 and best bowling figures of 6/55, Vickery considers himself an all-rounder. Vickery was coached by Old Eds premier league cricket captain Ryan Cook at his school, Millfield in England. While playing for his county at school boy level, Vickery was also mentored by Cook’s father, Jimmy.
The cricketer was later invited to Johannesburg to play for Old Eds club during the English winter.
“The standard of club cricket is significantly higher here,” said Vickery. “I have enjoyed the harder, quicker wickets here, and this has done more for my batting than my bowling. The standard of cricket at schoolboy and club cricket level is significantly higher here than in England. In England we have only 10 or 12 good cricketing schools, unlike here.”
Playing for the Old Eds premier league team, Vickery bats at number seven and has an average of 17. Old Eds communications officer Mike Dunk said the Englishman’s spin bowling was economical as he had conceded less than four runs an over and picked up nine wickets so far.
Vickery was full of praise for his two young team-mates, Yaseen Valli and Grant Roelofsen.
“These two schoolboys are very impressive cricketers, and well ahead of most schoolboys of their age in England,” he said.
Having already played for England’s U15 team, Vickery also has an outside chance of making the England U19 team for the World Cup due to take place in February.
Dunk said Vickery’s contribution to the premier league team at Old Eds came at an opportune time, as the team had to fill the large gaps left by those who had to play provincial cricket.
