BURY-born Steve Kirby’s success story is the typical rags to riches tale.

Since playing his first game of cricket for Central Lancashire League side Heywood at the age of seven, Kirby has weaved a rocky, but successful, road through county cricket to the verge of an England call-up.

The former Elton High School pupil made his break into county cricket via a YTS contract at Leicestershire after being scouted playing an inter-league game.

“I went on a two-year contract, signing terms for £25 a week,” he recalls, as he is now playing in an age where cricketers have been fired into the spotlight because of the millions on offer for playing Twenty20 cricket across the world.

Kirby, who went to the same school as Premiership football duo Gary and Phil Neville, now plays for Gloucestershire.

The 30 year-old firebrand paceman is back in his home county, gunning for Lancashire Lightning in tonight’s Pro40 League game at Old Trafford.

Kirby still has strong links in the county. His parents live in Ainsworth and he gets back to his former club when he can.

The pace ace was discarded by Leicestershire without playing a first-class game.

“I ended up selling floors and stacking shelves in Argos,” he added.

He was then picked up by Yorkshire, and played a crucial role in their County Championship title winning season in 2001, taking 47 wickets.

“Yorkshire were brilliant with me, I had been given a second chance, and I was determined to make the most of it.”

That performance earned him a spot in the first England Academy squad, touring Australia.

“It was the first ever Academy with the likes of Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Ian Bell and Andrew Strauss. It really gave me the taste of playing for England,” he said.

“I can’t explain how much I want to play for England, it is what gets you up in a morning. But I guess wanting it and getting it are two completely different things.”

He left Yorkshire at his own request in 2004, but he was soon snapped up by Gloucestershire. Since then he has had a mixed time. He accepts his infamous antics, including accusations of ball tampering, have perhaps hindered his progress.

But despite all the on-field bravado, Kirby has a desire to succeed. He said: “I have put all the silly business behind me. I am a dad with two kids. You just can’t carry on acting like a pork chop.”

Kirby, who has also played for the England Lions side, has just returned from a shoulder injury. He is rumoured to be a target for Warwickshire, and added: “Gloucestershire have been great with me, but I have the hardest decision of my career around the corner.”