David Lloyd: Derbyshire captain on stress of county schedule

Had former Glamorgan captain David Lloyd not moved to Derbyshire for the 2024 season, he might not still be playing the game.

Raised in Wrexham, Lloyd and his parents made almost weekly four-hour journeys to Cardiff in the hope of him becoming a professional cricketer for Glamorgan.

The 31-year-old made his debut in 2012, before an impressive 11-year stint with the club yielded almost 5,000 first-class runs and 96 wickets.

However, nearly three years ago, the dream job that Lloyd had once done almost everything and anything for, began to feel like a burden.

“The last couple of years have been quite difficult, in terms of coping with the game and having two young kids,” he tells BBC Sport.

“It added more pressure on. It’s like any profession, but you want to do as well as you can and if I don’t, what if?

“It is difficult because you are away. I’m not saying cricket is different to other jobs, but you miss out. We had no family support down in Cardiff, it is four hours away.

“My wife was by herself looking after the kids and it’s hard for her, so you feel like you need to help out, but then cricket is your job.”