Snooker legend Jimmy White has admitted that he is ‘flabbergasted’ by the rise of his grandson Ralphie Albert, 17, who has been called up by England Under-19s after a string of standout displays for Surrey.
Albert scored 96 on his Metro Bank One-Day Cup debut against Nottinghamshire last month and took ten wickets in a match for England U19s against India[1] with his left-arm spin.
The teenager has been selected again for the closing U19 internationals of the summer against Ireland and Bangladesh.
White, the six-time World Championship runner-up, told The Times[2]: ‘Sometimes I just go wow! I can’t quite believe it. I’m flabbergasted, really. I’m so proud of him.’
He added that Ralphie’s dedication stood out from an early age. ‘Years ago, we’d occasionally have a celebrity game in Esher to raise money for charity and Ralphie’s dad, Jon Albert, my son-in-law, was a very good cricketer.
‘I’d get him in as a ringer, like bringing in a hundred-break snooker player, and Ralphie has been playing ‘mini-cricket’ since he was a really young man.’
Snooker legend Jimmy White has admitted that he is ‘flabbergasted’ by the rise of his grandson Ralphie Albert
Albert scored 96 on his Metro Bank One-Day Cup debut against Nottinghamshire last month and took ten wickets in a match for England U19s
White said his grandson’s work ethic had continued through lockdown, adding: ‘He’s such a hard worker. Even in lockdown, he was working away on his bowling.
‘I’m absolutely blown away, really. Ralphie’s so dedicated; practises hard and gives it his all. The most precious thing for me is that he enjoys it and that it’s about the cricket, not what he can get out of cricket. Even if he has a great day, he’s so level. He’s proper professional.’
The 63-year-old said he follows Ralphie’s progress wherever he is on tour. ‘As you know, you can watch anything on the streams these days, so I watch him all the time. I was in China last week for a tournament, trying to show the locals the stream, telling them, ‘It’s my grandson,’ but I think it all got lost a bit in translation.’
Albert’s latest call-up continues a breakthrough summer. His 96 for Surrey against Nottinghamshire in the One-Day Cup followed eye-catching bowling displays for England’s Under-19s against India, where he claimed ten wickets in a match.
He is now expected to feature again in age-group internationals in September.
White remains one of Britain’s most recognisable sportsmen after four decades on the snooker circuit and still competes professionally.