Old Trafford to Edgbaston: Phil Neville wants to switch to cricket

Most professional football players retire from the sport and spend time with their families, or going on to lead a more sedate life in the media box. Not for Everton captain Phil Neville though, who has said that he wants to spend his post-retirement days playing cricket!

Neville, who has had a very good football career, starting off with Manchester United and now Everton, has won 59 England caps and 6 Premier League titles. He now seems to be keen on don the whites of English cricket rather than the Blues of Everton. This may well take some years however, as Neville, part of the famous Manchester United fledglings of 1992, is still doing well for the Toffees.

England do need some “English” players in their side

Interestingly, this will not be the first foray into the 22 yards for the defender, who played club cricket alongside Andrew Flintoff for Lancashire’s youth setup. He was considered good enough for the county’s second XI at the age of 15, and has said that he would join up with Bury-based local league club Greenmouth, whom he represented as a junior.

“One hundred per cent, I will play cricket again in a couple of years time if my career ends. That is the first thing I am going to do; I am going to get back doing something I love.”

Has already donned the whites, albeit a different kind

Phil will not be the only Neville to play for Greenmouth, with father Neville Neville also having played for the club. Cricket seems to be in the Neville blood; brother Gary was a brilliant cricketer during his younger days, having played for Lancashire U-14, and also with Australian great Matthew Hayden. It will be interesting to see if  Gary follows his brother, and moves from punditry to cricket!