Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Caleb Falconer made his first-class debut for Middlesex against Lancashire in May
ByTimothy AbrahamBBC Sport Journalist- Published47 minutes ago
It was concerns over phishing online, rather than fishing outside off stump, that nearly scuppered Caleb Falconer's hopes of a contract in The Hundred.
At the time the Middlesex batting all-rounder did not have an agent, had not yet made a professional appearance and was thousands of miles from home, away with England at the Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
But the teenager had a hunch he should pick up the phone to his father.
"I actually gave him a call and said, 'It might be worth chucking my name in' for The Hundred auction," Falconer told BBC Sport.
His father Stuart - a coach, a major influence on his son's career and, for one day only, became his unofficial player representative.
There was just one hitch. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was not quite convinced he really was Falconer's father.
"They had to get back to him to find out if he actually was my dad and it wasn't just a hoax email," Falconer laughed.
"It was a bit of a process and it took him a few hours to sort it. I've no idea what my dad wrote!"
A few phone calls, emails and a presumably an identity check later, Falconer senior had managed to get Caleb on to the auction list.
It turned out to be quite an important email, not least for his son's bank balance.
Several months later, his name was being fought over by two Hundred franchises, with Southern Brave eventually winning the bidding at £55,000.
"My mindset was that even being in the auction was a really cool achievement," Falconer said.
"To get picked up, and also getting a bit of a bidding war, that was unbelievable."
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It is quite a jump for a teenager who only moved to the UK in 2023, having been born and raised in South Africa, with the aim of cracking it as a professional cricketer.
Falconer has yet to make an appearance for Brave this summer, but has been soaking up the experience of training alongside players he grew up watching and "picking their brains as much as possible".
With Brave unable to reach The Hundred knockout phase, Falconer could be given his chance in their final group game against Trent Rockets on Monday.
He caught the eye at the Under-19 World Cup, finishing as the tournament's sixth highest run scorer with 309 runs from six innings at an average of 61.80.
His batting is built around power and innovative strokeplay all round the ground, with AB de Villiers - the original 'Mr 360' - among his inspirations.
"I like playing the old paddle, or the scoop, especially when it's a big quick bowler and you just use their pace," he said.
Stuart Falconer, as you would expect, has a view on that, too.
"My dad is always telling me to pack them away until needed!" the 19-year-old said.
The ambition now stretches well beyond The Hundred, with Falconer keen to play for England's senior side one day.
"I would love to play in all three formats," he added.
"I'd like to see myself as an all-round player who can adapt to the different formats.
"I think that's every kid's dream to represent your country in all three formats. Hopefully, off the back of that, I can play some franchise cricket as well."
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