Hundreds of people will have qualified as a solicitor this month, the culmination of years of hard graft, long hours and dedication.
But none will have combined their training contract with playing a full summer of semi-professional cricket and nurturing a media career commentating alongside childhood heroes.
‘I love being busy,’ says 25-year-old Melissa Story, with plenty of understatement. Naturally, she bats and bowls for her county Gloucestershire.
Her last weekend before qualification was one typically packed schedule. She left work at Bristol firm Foot Anstey on the Friday evening, hot-footed it to Leicester to play for Gloucestershire in a one-day game on the Saturday, then travelled to London to commentate for the BBC on the final of The Hundred competition.
By Monday morning, Story was back at her desk doing the day job. ‘My firm has been so nice with me and flexible, changing round my hours so I am not out of action. My annual leave requests are random days in the middle of the week to play a one-day match or travel to Southampton to commentate on a one-day international. On the plus side I never have to do a full handover note as I never take more than a day at a time – I never get to go on a proper holiday!’
Story benefitted from the creation of a new second tier of women’s county cricket this year which meant that she went from playing four or fives games for Gloucestershire to playing nearer 20. The games are highly competitive, featuring players striving to move up into the full-time, professional game.
Story is an ambitious cricketer but happy to retain her legal career and continue to play semi-professionally – even if it does mean juggling work and sporting commitments.
She is also keen to develop a media sideline which has taken off this year, with stints on the established Test Match Special and the chance to commentate on men’s and women’s internationals. Her next goal is to go abroad to commentate on cricket.
The radio work began while she was still at university in Southampton and a friend who was commentating on cricket for BBC Solent asked her to step in as a late emergency.
She quickly got a regular gig commentating on Hampshire matches – while still doing her studies – and then progressed to calling The Hundred, cricket at the Commonwealth Games and internationals. She says it was ‘like a dream’ to sit alongside the likes of Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Anya Shrubsole who she idolised growing up.
‘At times it has been surreal. I worked alongside Michael Vaughan, who captained the men’s team in 2005. I can still remember coming home from school and every day putting on the box set of that series.’
She also received some welcome advice from Izzy Westbury, a former cricketer, broadcaster and a criminal lawyer.
‘She told me how to balance it all – basically chaotically and through a lot of hard work.’
Story is now excited to start work at Foot & Anstey in the tax and succession team and says her broadcasting experience can benefit her professional life.
‘I see many similarities to working in the private sector. On the radio you are being invited into people’s homes and you need to find the right tone. Working with private clients was where I knew I wanted to be because of the effect you can have on people’s lives. Getting the communication right is the same, whether it’s talking about a lovely cover drive or advising someone on their will.’
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