Germany adventure symbolises turning of tide for Ollie Rayner

The 33-year-old spinner has not only been playing for a new county in the last month but also has a chance to represent a nation that is constantly striving to improve its cricketing status

There has been a considerable amount of change in the life of Ollie Rayner over the last few months.

Announced as a Kent loan signing from Middlesex last week, the 33-year-old was described by Paul Downton as a player who will "significantly add to our young group of players."

That particular mentoring role mirrors Germany’s intentions for Rayner after his visit to the national team training camp in Husum, North Germany in April.

The spinner was born in the country in November 1985 when his father was engaging in jungle warfare with the British army in Belize, which resulted in Rayner’s family constantly being on the move every two or three years.

Having received a call from the national selectors as to his availability to participate in the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifiers 33 years on, he has certainly embraced the challenge he has been tasked with of helping develop what he describes as "raw talent" in Germany, even though he identifies as a British citizen.

"I am very much British, no part of me is German whatsoever. I don't have any German heritage, it was purely circumstantial that I was born there. So I don’t swear allegiance to the German flag as it were.

"Having said that if I can help what they are trying to achieve then that is where I believe I can add value over there.

^{Rayner attended the Germany training camp in April}

"It will take a few people like myself coming over to help, it doesn’t necessarily mean I will be playing loads, but with my experience from county cricket, I will try to help tame some pretty raw players and help them develop and figure out how to play their game."

Unity, justice and freedom are the values which are mentioned in the German national anthem, and it is "towards these" that it says all Germans should strive.

However, resilience and strength were the principles that Rayner believes stood out during the training camp, and they were not his, but those of some of his potential teammates who have travelled from countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan and India to seek asylum or work and fulfil their desire for a better future which in some capacity involves playing the game they love.

"Some of the stories were absolutely incredible, particularly with the guys seeking asylum, some of the stories are quite harrowing and then also what is so humble is there desire to talk to me about my experiences and potentially I will be taking one of their spots.

"They have come all the way over and they love their cricket, they have built a life for themselves and then some bloke who is actually English could potentially come over and take their spot. I had a very candid conversation with one of them over it.

"He told me that if I can help German cricket by playing and as a result they have to miss out and that means that Germany do better and ultimately get more funding and cricket’s exposed more and their children can then have a better chance to grow up and play cricket for Germany then they were happy with that. That really took me aback.

"I am a soppy old git and I don’t like the thought of taking someone’s spot, I don’t like to be that Jofra Archer type person, it has happened to me in county cricket and it will happen to other people.

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"But at the same time I thought you have gone through all of that, I have just some muppet who plays county cricket who has come over because I happen to be born in Germany.

"I was absolutely blown away by that sort of mentality and that really does go throughout a lot of them. I am sure there will be some of them that are a bit more resentful than that but they seem quite open for discussion and trying to learn from me which is great."

What is nevertheless more questionable is how far Germany can go in their attempts to qualify for the actual tournament, and while Rayner remains non-committal about whether it is a realistic possibility this time around, he believes a couple of successful tournaments could see the country rise on the ladder of cricket-playing nations.

"Definitely the prospect of it is really exciting and they are all really excited to participate. They are one of the better sides within their group but I think Denmark are a main threat from what I hear and I think they are genuinely better than Italy.

"They [Germany] have definitely got a chance if they get through this Guernsey tournament and then whether it is realistic or not to genuinely think that they can compete for a World Cup spot quite yet I am not sure.

"They are still very much an amateur side because they don’t have the facilities, the time or the funding to really compete among the big boys quite yet.

"But that is why they have got to go through all these qualifiers stages and the better they do in that the more ICC funding they get and the more time and effort they can devote to really try and push their cricket forward. It is a vicious cycle, a hamster wheel."

Promoting cricket in Europe has been responsibility shouldered by Daniel Weston, Germany’s wicketkeeper and opening batsman. However, Rayner believes the lofty status he enjoys in the team has not hindered the bigger ambitions he holds for the game on the continent.

^{Rayner is unsure where his future in county cricket lies}

"The better the national side do the more the love for it filters throughout the clubs and this guy Dan Weston really is doing a magnificent job of spreading the love throughout Europe with this European Cricket League which he has trying to set up.

"He wants to set up a sort of Champions League of European cricket so it will only ever help towards the cause.

"There is a massive buzz there and they just need to have a couple of good tournaments to get them through and get them more recognised and further up that food chain and if that becomes something where people can genuinely make money out of and make a living out of it like I do back in England then it will absolutely fly through the roof.

"The talent is certainly there and there is no question of passion. There are some really good prospects of some really good cricket being played throughout Europe and especially in Germany.

"I am full of admiration for what these guys do. Certainly in the next couple of years they are trying to kick it on and push it through and promote it."

Rayner’s confidence in the growth of the game in Germany is therefore absolute, but what his personal future holds in the game is still up in the air as he enters the final year of his contract at Middlesex.

"It is a long shot and it probably is not going to happen but I wouldn’t want to rule myself out of having one more shot at getting into some sort of England side one day.

"Admittedly, I’m not deluded, I think that’s few and far between that chance.

"I have got a lot to offer, and that is my focus, to bring home the bacon and feed my family. My priority is finding a job for next year first and foremost."

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