Interview with Sussex cricketer Luke Wright

World Cup winner and Sussex stalwart Luke Wright is one of the hottest young talents in cricket and a regular in the England one-day and T20 squad but he loves returning to his new home in Newick after playing for his country abroad.

Luke Wright wears his achievements lightly. When we met at his new home in Newick he had to be reminded to fetch his World Cup winners medal for his photo.

He was enjoying being home, having just arrived back from the Twenty20 tournament that he and his teammates won against the old enemy Australia in St Lucia.

Luke contributed much to the overall victory both with ball and bat although he was modest about his own part in the campaign. “It’s been unbelievable. It sort of hit home before the final. England haven’t been to that many finals with the cricket.

“We had a letter read out from David Cameron in his new job just wishing all the boys good luck And I think then it really hit home that people at home had taken notice and it was becoming a big thing. And then, just to win it was fantastic.

“Everyone was so delighted and knowing back home that people were following us. I got off the pitch and I had about 70 text messages. It was just amazing to see the support we had out there and coming back it’s been great. I went down to the local pub and everyone’s been really nice.“Everybody in the team did well. It wasn’t just one person all the time. Obviously Kevin Pietersen did really well but everyone did well. All the way through, different games, each person Everyone who has come home in that 11 can honestly say they contributed to us winning it.”

His career started in his native Leicestershire when he followed his older brother Ashley into the county squad. Ashley is now the fitness coach for Surrey County Cricket Club.

Luke came to Sussex when he was 19, seeking first-team cricket and he lived near the County Ground in Shoreham Road at Hove for two years. His older colleagues looked after him as he was living away from home for the first time until he got his own flat at Wilby Road, aged 21. But he always wanted a more rural life.

“I rented a few different places on the way to this while I was househunting, all around Hove, close to the ground but because I grew up in the countryside, I always wanted to move into the country and no better than the Sussex countryside,” he said.

Always close to his parents, the family has stuck together as they now live in a wing of his new home. His trust in their judgement went as far as the selection of the property itself.

His parents Keith and Anna and his fianc�e Rebecca found the house while Luke was away on England duty in South Africa and he bought it on the basis of their recommendation and videos he had seen online. “I’d looked at so many before I went and we weren’t sure we would find somewhere that would work. Then just as I left they said we’ve found this one that is absolutely beautiful.

“They sent me all the pictures and Rebecca went through with a video camera so I watched it all on film and loved it on there and luckily the day I got here I absolutely loved it.”

The South African tour was particularly significant as he asked Rebecca to marry him on Christmas Eve when the couple were in Durban. They will marry on September 30 in New Zealand. Cricket brought them together too. He met his future wife when he was on the England tour to New Zealand two and a half years ago.

After his Twenty20 success and his appearances in the one-day side, he is still keen to play in the Ashes. “I think that Test cricket is the number one for me. It’s what I’m desperate to do. I want to make a debut and be involved with the Ashes. “The big goal is to play Test cricket. I’ve got to keep going and keep performing.”

His desire for success with England does not mean that he isn’t happy playing for his county side. “I always love coming back to Sussex. I’ve grown up with a lot of the guys here. I’ve just signed a three-year extension to my Sussex contract.“Ever since I signed I fell in love with Sussex. I never knew about Sussex and Brighton and Hove before I signed. “I couldn’t see myself moving away. It’s a beautiful part of England and I couldn’t imagine living elsewhere.”