Why I love...cricket

Top weatherman John Kettley reveals his passion for the sound of leather on willow to BBC Sport Online's Mike Burnett.

John Kettley has a secret ambition to merge his two greatest loves.

"I want to stand in the square at Lord's, just before England play Australia, and tell everyone what the weather will be like," admits Kettley with a cheeky smile.

Unfortunately, this news is not so surprising when you consider the man lives and breathes cricket when his head is not up in the clouds.

The 48-year-old's move to BBC Radio Five Live last month must have therefore been a Godsend.

I was a medium pacer - good on a hard wicket

  John Kettley

As well as being able to visit the cricket desk whenever he likes, Kettley feels that radio is letting people discover his passion for the game.

"Presenting on radio is different from TV, there is more chat. Five Live has helped people see I have other interests," said Kettley.

So is this the start of a broadcasting career in cricket?

The popular weatherman's eyes light up: "I would like any involvement in cricket," he smirks.

Grassroots level

Kettley, brought up in the small town of Todmorden in Yorkshire, learnt his cricket "on the street".

Instead of soccer's "jumpers for goalposts", it was stumps chalked on the wall.

But Kettley was soon playing for his local side in a town that spawned the likes of Peter Lever and Derek Shackleton.

"It was the only Yorkshire team in the Lancashire league, that's probably why some people think I'm a Lancashireman."

Will Kettley ever strut his stuff at Lord's?

The moustachioed meteorologist, who has played for a number of sides since then, sees himself as more of a bowler than a batsman.

"I was a medium pacer - good on a hard wicket."

But as a young player, Kettley thought his real strength was his reliability.

"The skipper could rely on me to bowl into the wind or up a hill for 20 or so overs," he recalls.

"I was the workhorse of the team because I loved cricket and would do anything."

So if things had turned out differently, could Kettley have been an English cricketing legend?

In a word, no.

"I wasn't dedicated enough and I wasn't good enough," he solemnly states.

Charity work

When it is suggested to him that he must have had some talent at the game, he sharply puts himself down.

"I turned up on time, and bought everyone a drink after the game."

Kettley may have made the correct career choice, but still enjoys a regular game of his favourite sport.

"I play for the Taverners mainly and the occasional celebrity charity match."

Up north, people bought you a drink after the game for doing well

  John Kettley

One of his annual fixtures is playing for Norma Major's XI which raises money for the Mencap charity.

This year's star-studded event takes place on 22 June in Alconbury which is in the Huntingdon constituency, where Norma's husband - former prime minister John Major - was MP.

Clearly, the weather forecasting star has not let his job get in the way of his love cricket.

And having played across the country over the years, the Yorkshireman has noticed one important difference between north and south.

"Up north, people bought you a drink after the game for doing well.

"I was really surprised when I went down south in the late 70s and found out it was the person who did well that had to buy the round."

So anyone who sees Kettley in the bar after a dramatic tumble of wickets should make sure he pays up.