Salt of the earth

BROUGHT UP IN BARBADOS, ENGLAND STAR IS LOVING HIS 'HOME' TOURNAMENT AFTER FIGHTING HIS WAY TO THE TOP

- RICHARD EDWARDS

THIS T20 World Cup represents something of a homecoming voyage for Phil Salt.

But the England opener's route to the top has been anything but plain sailing.

Big-hitting Salt spent six years in Barbados after his family moved out to the Caribbean where his father was working as a property developer.

There are worse places to earn a living. But on his return to England, the odds were fairly lengthy on Salt one day making it as a professional cricketer.

"As a coach you gauge whether kids have a chance and Phil was one of those you felt always had one because of the shots he played and his mentality," says Keith Medlycott, the former Surrey spinner and cricket professional at Reed's School in Surrey.

"But you have to remember that Phil didn't get selected for any Surrey age group team during his time here.