His selection was based on his high scoring in club cricket, at a time when Essex relied greatly on amateurs. During his first few years as an Essex player, he worked as a banker, however after two seasons he gave it up and started work in the wine trade.
He was selected for Essex based on his outstanding performance in club cricket, which was vital for the team at that time when they heavily relied on amateur players. Initially, he managed to balance his cricket career with a job as a banker, but eventually, he left banking to pursue a career in the wine trade after two seasons.