IT'S A sport more commonly associated with English schoolboys and village greens.

But one of cricket's biggest rising stars, blazing a trail at current county champions Durham hails from Stepps.

Calum MacLeod grew up in the North Lanarkshire town, inheriting a love of the sport from his dad who took him along to watch local matches.

"I remember long summer nights at Drumpelier in Coatbridge watching the teams play and really enjoying it," recalls the 25-year-old.

"But when I took it up, I was pretty much on my own among all my friends."

He grins: "It's not the most Glaswegian of sports is it?"

Calum is back home in Glasgow this week to play for Scotland as the team prepares for the 2015 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.

"It's great to be home, because I missed the entire Commonwealth Games over the summer, which was a real shame," he groans.

"I was immensely proud of my city. Glasgow really showed what it was capable of.

I'm lucky to be able to travel around the world so much but it does make you appreciate what home means too."

Singled out as a talented bowler from an early age, Calum was snapped up by Warwickshire straight from school and joined the Birmingham-based club when he was just 17.

At the age of 18, he made his Scotland debut against the United Arab Emirates in an Intercontinental Cup match, becoming the youngest Scottish player to debut at this level.

"I didn't really think about cricket as a career when I was at school because it just didn't seem like that would be an option," he says.

"I had thought about college or university, but wasn't sure what I wanted to do - and like any 17-year-old, I jumped at the chance of becoming a professional sportsman straight away."

His promising career at Warwickshire came to an abrupt halt in 2009, when his bowling action was deemed illegal, and the club let him go.

Determined not to give up, Calum reinvented himself as a batsman and a string of fine performances for Scotland brought him to the attention of Durham.

"It was a massive setback, of course, but it's one of those experiences you have to learn from," he says.

"It was absolutely the right decision and in the long term, it has worked out for the best.

"It's been an incredible summer for me and it's all happened so fast."

Of all his successes in the game - which include hitting a Scottish one-day international record of 175 against Canada earlier this year - Calum says joining Durham is a particular highlight.

"Making my first class debut with Durham last week was fantastic," he smiles.

"If you'd said to me, even six months ago, that it would happen I wouldn't have believed you.

"I am thinking about studying now - the whole bowling incident demonstrated just how quickly this can all disappear, so I'd like to have a back-up plan.

"I've already completed a short Open University course and I'm now considering a degree, but I'm not sure yet which direction to take with it."

STUDYING decisions aside, Calum's plan for the next few months is clear enough.

As well as catching up with his parents, Donald and Morag, and brothers Niall, 22 and Allan, 27, the hard work preparing for the World Cup starts now.

"I'm really looking forward to it," he smiles.

"Cricket Scotland do a lot of great work inspiring young people to get involved in the sport, and there are hundreds of teams around the country.

"If the national team can do well, hopefully that will inspire even more kids to get involved.

"Cricket is a unique challenge, which is why I love it. It's a team sport, of course, but it's also very individual and no two games are ever the same."

He adds: "I never thought, when I was young and playing for fun at Drumpellier, that I'd get to this stage.

"My parents have been brilliant - giving up their summers to take me all over the place and standing watching me on cold nights."

Calum adds with a grin: "My mum is the worst watcher of cricket though - she just gets so nervous when I'm playing.

"It drives my brothers mad because she won't move off her seat the entire time. But I can't thank them enough for supporting me."