Tom Hartley's Hyderabad hardiness 'almost out-of-body experience', says father Bill

Amid winter's chill, a warm glow enveloped Hartley’s Nurseries on Monday as news of England's triumph in Hyderabad spread joy on Merseyside.

Bill Hartley, the father of England cricket sensation Tom, playfully mentioned that certain tasks in the nursery are being overlooked, suggesting that some responsibilities are being set aside for the moment.

“There are things not going on in the nursery that should be today. But we’ll let that slide!” Bill Hartley, jokingly remarked to iNews.

A former Commonwealth Games silver medalist in the 4x400 meters relay, Hartley Senior, though not a cricket expert, appreciates his left-armer son's resilience. Having managed Tom's football team during his teenage years, he understands what motivates the Lancastrians.

Reflecting on Tom's debut, Hartley acknowledges the crucial role played by England team management.

“When Mike Atherton handed him his cap on the first morning, he told Tom that there had never been a better time to come into this England cricket environment,” he said.

“Tom had a good think about the way he bowled in that first innings, and he made some adjustments. He has a lot of good help around, which obviously helps. Tom said Jack Leach and Jeetan Patel [England’s spin bowling coach] were amazing. And the captain completely backed him," he added.

Sunday saw Tom's remarkable comeback, securing a historic seven for 62, helping England secure an unlikely victory. Hartley Senior calls it an "almost out-of-body experience," expressing the rollercoaster of emotions.

Ormskirk Cricket Club were fantastic: Senior Hartley

Reflecting on Tom's journey, Hartley attributes his success to a well-rounded sporting foundation. 

"The basics of running, catching and athleticism were practiced a lot as a kid. He played loads of other sports as well. He played soccer, he swam, he played rugby. I think the grounding he had being involved in team sports from an early age helped a lot. I just wanted him to not make the mistakes that I made when I was running back in the dark ages. He has had some great coaching as a youngster. Ormskirk Cricket Club were fantastic. He was playing senior cricket from a very early age. He didn’t just get to play and bat down the order, or bowl the odd over, they would throw him the ball when the team were in a tight position," Senior Hartley added.

Despite facing challenges, England secured an unexpected victory after two tough days. Hartley Senior relieved the match concluded the previous night, humorously expresses his nerves might not have endured the pressure of a morning comeback. The Hartley family anticipates more sleepless nights as the series unfolds.

“Thank god they got it finished last night,” he says. “I’m not sure my nerves could have stood the pressure if they had had to come back this morning," he concluded.