TOM Lammonby doesn't need to be told things move quickly in the world of professional sport.
Only a few weeks ago the 21-year-old was staring down the barrel of another cold, cricket-less winter in England. But just days after asking his agent, former England international Michael Lumb, to look around for a club in Australia, Lammonby found himself on a plane to Sydney to link up with Manly-Warringah in the NSW Premier Cricket competition.
The jetlag had barely subsided when his phone rang after going for a run to Shelly Beach. It was the Hobart Hurricanes on the other end, wondering if the Englishman fancied suiting up against reigning champions the Sixers in the Big Bash League. Lammonby flew down to Tasmania to make his BBL debut and stayed on for Hobart's win over the Sixers at the SCG on Sunday night before returning to Manly colours for a T20 on Sunday.
"It all happened very quickly but you've got to take these opportunities when they present themselves," Lammonby told Inside Back. "I would've liked to have done better but the opportunity was really cool and I really enjoyed playing against some of the best players in the competition."
Lammonby, who is staying with Manly cricket's "surrogate" parents Phill and Sarah Edwards at Allambie, is thankful he landed on the northern beaches.
"You can do a lot of work in the nets but to be out in the middle working on your game is so important," he said. "Manly was really the only option we looked at and it's been a great decision. It's a great club with great people and I'm learning a lot about myself as a person and cricketer."
Lammonby, who already has four centuries to his name after just 19 games with county side Somerset, has an Australian-born father but dreams of one day representing England.
He said: "Everyone who plays professionally wants to play for their country and I'm no different. That's the long-term goal and this trip is a stepping stone towards that."
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