Henry Glanfield in full flight [The News
Henry Glanfield's cricketing story is far from conventional. But it is one that has seen him feature on the international stage at the tender age of 20.
The Hambledon all-rounder, who qualifies to play for Norway through his mother, has featured for his adopted country at under-19, under-25 and senior level.
Not known for its cricketing background, Glanfield lines up alongside Asian refugees from Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka when returning to Scandinavia for a sporting purpose, writes Simon Carter of The News, Portsmouth.
At just 15, he was invited to Norway for net sessions with the under-19 squad.
A few age group competitive appearances would follow before the senior set up came calling and an international bow arrived in matches against Austria and UAE in 2017 when he was 17.
Glanfield said: ‘I’ve been going out there since I was a baby but the first time for cricket was for a net session with the under-19 national side. It was a good experience and a few months down the line had a little touring tournament competition against Sweden at under-19 level.
‘We played three matches and actually ended up winning that series 2-1. Things then progressed from there. The year after that we went to Berlin for a competition – Germany, Switzerland and Belgium were all involved.
‘It took place in the East side of Berlin at the 1936 Olympic Stadium.
Schools
'There was another one, this time for the senior squad, against the UAE and Austria.
‘That was a good standard, a couple of the Austrian guys were good players.'
As a regular visitor to the country to see family, Glanfield is well aware of how low cricket is on the popularity level in Norway.
However, he does feel things could now change with sessions being put on in schools.
And even some family members are now aware of the sport.
‘It’s not a Norweigan sport, they don’t play cricket,' he admitted. ‘They ski, play football and the girls play handball – that’s what they do.
‘They are starting to pick it up, though. Schools are now starting to teach it in Norway.
‘When I was there in 2015, no one knew what cricket was but it is growing.
‘My cousins out there now know what cricket is.'
Glanfield’s international experiences have seen him met some incredible individuals - and line up against some of the sport’s big names.
Each of his team-mates on the national stage has a story to tell, having fled war in their own countries
Glanfield has also faced a former Pakistan Test captain and one of the quickest bowlers to have played cricket.
Taliban
‘All of the players are Asian refugees from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan who make up the team,' added Glanfield.
‘These guys are fleeing war and stuff.
‘There’s a guy who’s one year older than me who trained with Essex recently – a really good player.
‘He walked from Afghanistan, through Italy and up to Norway.
‘Both of his parents were killed by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan and he’s now living in Norway.
‘I’ve played against (legendary Pakistan fast bowler) Shoaib Akhtar.
‘He’s obviously friends with someone in the set up and played in a charity game three or four years ago.
‘We did something called the NPL – Norwegian Premier League, which has eight teams, one of which is Nord, in Oslo, where I play.
‘It was actually on some Norwegian sports channel.
‘I also played against Abdul Razzaq and Misbah Ul-Haq who was the Pakistan Test captain when I played against him.'
Glanfield has had very little playing time in the past 18 months due to a serious leg injury and the pandemic. An innocuous fall off a kerb while at Surrey University saw him break his ankle and require an operation. He spent all of last summer hobbling around Ridge Meadow in a moon boot.
But Glanfield has returned with a bang, scoring his maiden century (112 not out) and taking four wickets in the Southern Premier League Division 2/3 Cup East group game against Gosport Borough earlier this month.
He was 35 not out against Hartley Wintney in the same competition at the weekend when the rains came.
‘To be honest, I haven’t been playing or practising so much,' he revealed. ‘I’ve been really busy with work at the moment and I’ve only just started training back at Hambledon. ‘I just guess it all clicked back on the day (against Gosport) and I remembered how to hold the bat!'
• Glanfield will line up for Hambledon in Saturday’s Southern Premier League Cup derby against neighbours Waterlooville at Ridge Meadow, 12.30.
Article reproduced by kind persmisdsion of The News, Portsmouth.
The Hambledon all-rounder, who qualifies to play for Norway through his mother, has featured for his adopted country at under-19, under-25 and senior level.
Not known for its cricketing background, Glanfield lines up alongside Asian refugees from Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka when returning to Scandinavia for a sporting purpose, writes Simon Carter of The News, Portsmouth.
At just 15, he was invited to Norway for net sessions with the under-19 squad.
A few age group competitive appearances would follow before the senior set up came calling and an international bow arrived in matches against Austria and UAE in 2017 when he was 17.
Glanfield said: ‘I’ve been going out there since I was a baby but the first time for cricket was for a net session with the under-19 national side. It was a good experience and a few months down the line had a little touring tournament competition against Sweden at under-19 level.
‘We played three matches and actually ended up winning that series 2-1. Things then progressed from there. The year after that we went to Berlin for a competition – Germany, Switzerland and Belgium were all involved.
‘It took place in the East side of Berlin at the 1936 Olympic Stadium.
Schools
'There was another one, this time for the senior squad, against the UAE and Austria.
‘That was a good standard, a couple of the Austrian guys were good players.'
As a regular visitor to the country to see family, Glanfield is well aware of how low cricket is on the popularity level in Norway.
However, he does feel things could now change with sessions being put on in schools.
And even some family members are now aware of the sport.
‘It’s not a Norweigan sport, they don’t play cricket,' he admitted. ‘They ski, play football and the girls play handball – that’s what they do.
‘They are starting to pick it up, though. Schools are now starting to teach it in Norway.
‘When I was there in 2015, no one knew what cricket was but it is growing.
‘My cousins out there now know what cricket is.'
Glanfield’s international experiences have seen him met some incredible individuals - and line up against some of the sport’s big names.
Each of his team-mates on the national stage has a story to tell, having fled war in their own countries
Glanfield has also faced a former Pakistan Test captain and one of the quickest bowlers to have played cricket.
Taliban
‘All of the players are Asian refugees from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan who make up the team,' added Glanfield.
‘These guys are fleeing war and stuff.
‘There’s a guy who’s one year older than me who trained with Essex recently – a really good player.
‘He walked from Afghanistan, through Italy and up to Norway.
‘Both of his parents were killed by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan and he’s now living in Norway.
‘I’ve played against (legendary Pakistan fast bowler) Shoaib Akhtar.
‘He’s obviously friends with someone in the set up and played in a charity game three or four years ago.
‘We did something called the NPL – Norwegian Premier League, which has eight teams, one of which is Nord, in Oslo, where I play.
‘It was actually on some Norwegian sports channel.
‘I also played against Abdul Razzaq and Misbah Ul-Haq who was the Pakistan Test captain when I played against him.'
Glanfield has had very little playing time in the past 18 months due to a serious leg injury and the pandemic. An innocuous fall off a kerb while at Surrey University saw him break his ankle and require an operation. He spent all of last summer hobbling around Ridge Meadow in a moon boot.
But Glanfield has returned with a bang, scoring his maiden century (112 not out) and taking four wickets in the Southern Premier League Division 2/3 Cup East group game against Gosport Borough earlier this month.
He was 35 not out against Hartley Wintney in the same competition at the weekend when the rains came.
‘To be honest, I haven’t been playing or practising so much,' he revealed. ‘I’ve been really busy with work at the moment and I’ve only just started training back at Hambledon. ‘I just guess it all clicked back on the day (against Gosport) and I remembered how to hold the bat!'
• Glanfield will line up for Hambledon in Saturday’s Southern Premier League Cup derby against neighbours Waterlooville at Ridge Meadow, 12.30.
Article reproduced by kind persmisdsion of The News, Portsmouth.
