 Wagg hit a century and two fifties and took 57 wickets in the 2008 season |
Four years ago, Graham Wagg's cricket career looked in tatters after he was banned for a year for taking cocaine. His then county Warwickshire sacked him and his chances of realising a dream to play for England looked remote at best. But the 25-year-old all-rounder has turned his life and career around. He has just been named Derbyshire Player of the Year, has won a place in the England squad for the Hong Kong Sixes tournament and has become a father for the first time with the birth of his son Grayden Grant. Wagg is honest about his stupidity in failing a drugs test. "It was a horrible time to go through and hopefully I'll never have that sort of experience again," the personable Wagg told BBC Sport. "It's still in some people's minds and to some I'll always be known as the ex-Warwickshire cricketer who got banned. "It was a massive mistake and I'll never forget it for the rest of my life but I'm really pleased I've been able to come back strongly. "It is quite difficult when you see it in the papers and you hear guys talking but my view, and the family's and most of the Derby fans are that that's all gone now. "I'd advise anyone out there, after a few drinks, make sure you're careful. "The worst thing was telling my parents. My father has put so much effort, money and time into my career and to let him down, and the rest of my family, and myself, was just horrendous."  Wagg in action for England A in India in 2004 before his ban |
Ironically, the annus horribilis of 2004 had begun well as Wagg, who had previously played for the under-16 and under-19 England teams, continued his rise through the international ranks. He went on tour to India with England A, in a team featuring a certain future captain called Kevin Pietersen. "Kevin always stood out. He was amazing to talk to about cricket, he was a good guy I got on well with him," recalled Wagg. "We had our ups and downs, as everyone does on tours, disagreements about field settings, but I always knew he'd grow up and he would be a great player, and he's proved it to the whole world." Wagg had modest success in India, taking two wickets and scoring 37 runs in the three matches, but was still highly rated. But then came the drugs test. "I'd been on the tour, there was talk about England, your pay goes up, you go out and start partying, I was still really young and that mad occasion did come along," he admitted. His next move had at first glance a rather bitter irony about it, but was in fact made for shrewd cricketing reasons. "I went to Holland, which wasn't in some people's eyes the ideal place for me to go, drug capital of the world, but it was the only place I could play under ECB regulations," he said.  | 606: DEBATE |
"I really enjoyed myself, did a lot of coaching, I even worked out there for a wine company delivering wine and it was a great time in my life playing cricket again, the ban was still in my mind but at least I was doing what I loved doing." Warwickshire offered Wagg the chance of a three-month trial when his ban ended and several other counties expressed an interest in signing him but he chose Derbyshire. Former Bears player Graham Welch was a major influence in the decision and Wagg said: "I loved it as soon as I walked through." With the change of county came a change of attitude and Wagg admitted: "I was a bit of party animal before and well known for that but that's all gone now.  Wagg acknowledges his maiden first-class century last summer |
"You do have fun but if you want to be a professional you've got to treat yourself and your body as a professional, work really hard on your game with everyone around you. "I was always told I had talent and could play for England, but talent doesn't get you all the way and that's one thing that did sink into my head. "Before I thought 'I can do this anyway' but now I've realised you've got to work hard to produce in this game, when you haven't been mentally strong or in the right frame of mind, your performances aren't going to be there. "Luckily in the last couple of years my mind set has been great and the results are showing." By that he means scoring more than 500 runs and taking 50-plus wickets for the past two seasons - the only player in county cricket to do so. And he has been rewarded with a chance of playing for England in November, in a squad featuring big-hitters Dimitri Mascarenhas and Graham Napier. "It's a great time to be playing cricket, especially in the limited overs game, there's a lot of money involved now. "The main thing is I have been noticed, my next thing is to go on the Lions tour and work it from there, but at least I'm performing and knocking on the door. "I don't think it's all about the money, we all like to get paid a lot for what we do, but it has always been my ambition to walk out in a Test." And to make the headlines for all the right reasons? "I'm happy to put it all behind me. It's been really hard work but it has worked out in the end."
| 
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?