Phil Salt tells a great story about the time, growing up in Barbados, he took Sir Garfield Sobers’ Indian takeaway home by mistake.

The teenager, a bit starstruck, grabbed the wrong food off the counter as he waited with one of the game’s greatest players of all time.

When he got home and realised his error, his dad “went mad” and gave him a clip around the ear. Then he told him to take the curry back to Sir Garry as quickly as he could.

Salt also batted and chatted with a few famous names. It was all part of life as a kid in the Caribbean after his parents moved from their home in North Wales when he was ten.

That colourful upbringing did not just make Salt, the emerging Sussex batsman, the cricketer he is today. It possibly turned him into a cricketer, full stop.

His weekends revolved around supporting Manchester City before his family upped sticks.

Fast forward a few years and he won a scholarship to play cricket at Reed School in Surrey, from where he was recommended to Sussex by Keith Medleycott.

But, while Reed was a good finishing school, the North Walian has “made in Barbados” stamped on him in cricketing terms.

The excitement, enjoyment and panache of the Caribbean game won him over when all he had previously been keen on was City.

He told The Argus: “It was all about football up until we moved. My old man comes from Manchester so, when we lived in North Wales, we used to go and watch City home and away.

The Argus:

Sir Garry Sobers was not amused to see his takeaway disappear

“They were dark days back then, playing teams like Tranmere Rovers. I’ve been there through thick and thin!

“But then, as soon as I saw cricket in Barbados, I knew what I wanted to do.

“Being there has been a definite benefit to me. I don’t think I would think about cricket the way I do or play the way I do if it wasn’t for that influence.

“I try and be aggressive, be positive and play with freedom – like Wrighty (skipper Luke Wright) always tells me.”

Don’t get the wrong idea about Salt’s batting technique. He doesn’t just go out there and throw the bat.

On the evidence of his knock of 81 against Middlesex on Sunday, he is generally textbook, almost old school.

He plays the shots many of us were taught decades ago by grey-haired teachers in yellowing cricket jumpers. Then he adds a dash of flair – like the switch hit flick over a third man brought up into the circle on Monday.

A few knowledgeable observers in the press box, including former England bowler Angus Fraser, had to ask themselves what to call that shot and failed to come up with a definitive answer.

But that was the exception. In strokeplay and running between the wickets, he appears to have been well schooled.

He kept his place against Surrey today and scored 20 out of 239 at Guildford.

Salt said: “I had a few good coaches available to me when I was younger.

“Coaches like Philo Wallace. I’m good friends with Akil Greenidge and his father (former Test batsman Alvin). But it was more just a case of learning by seeing.

“I played at Wanderers Cricket Club and rubbed shoulders with some West Indies players. You just watch them and pick up things from therm.

“Gordon Greenidge told me stuff about batting. Collis King as well – he helped me out quite a bit.

“I want to be consistent in what I do and perform every game. That’s almost unrealistic – to perform in every game.

“But that’s the standard I want to set myself. I don’t want to look too far ahead. I want to play every ball as it comes.”