Just playing cricket again is something Thame Town left-arm spinner Kevin Crawford never thought was possible.

Two years ago, the 24-year-old was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma a form of cancer affecting white bloods cells.

But now he is playing a significant role in his side's fine start to the Home Counties Premier League season.

Having got the all-clear in December, Crawford is enjoying every minute he gets on the field.

He said: "It can seem a bit bleak for people, but I've come through it.

"I was really quite ill, even in cancer terms, but it is just about keeping a positive attitude.

"It is cheesy, but it definitely is the case. If someone like me is playing cricket again, it shows that it can be done.

"I didn't imagine I would be playing again in a million years to be honest.

"Days like these when the weather is perfect are what it's all about for me now.

"In the most Hollywood sense of the word I suppose I'm glad to be here.

"This is great, I love being able to do this. I'm pretty hard to depress now."

Crawford, whose 25-year-old brother Alan also plays in the team, grew up in Ickford and went to Wheatley Park School.

He began his cricketing career with Tiddington and represented Oxfordshire up to under 19 level.

Crawford joined Thame just before he became ill and says the club remained supportive right through his recovery.

He said: "I got ill in my third year at Nottingham Trent University, but I didn't know it was cancer for a while. I just felt ill.

"I had a foot injury and because I have got haemophilia as well, I went along to see the doctor.

"I drove to hospital and I was in crippling pain by the time I got there.

"I basically had a lot of chemotherapy and some stem cell treatment.

"I came down to watch some games in the break between treatments. Coming back was an escape from it all."

Crawford added: "Even people I played against came in to visit me and it makes a big difference when you are sat on your own in a room."

The Crawford brothers now live together in London, but are more than keen to travel back to Oxfordshire each weekend.

"I come back to Thame because the atmosphere is so good," said Kevin. "I've got a great rapport with the lads and really enjoy it.

"It's also nice to get out of the city and come out here.

"We've started well this season and everyone is doing really well for each other.

"We've got a really strong team and I think the top half of the table is going to be really close."

Rediscovering his form after a two-year absence took time, but Crawford said even that proved a bonus.

He said: "I was tired to begin with, but it was great to have a sense of normality.

"Even struggling to find my line and length was kind of nice. It was a fun thing for me to do."

As for the future, Crawford wants to get involved in advertising and art direction, but he has a clear philosophy.

"I don't want to do something for a career that I don't absolutely love. At the end of the day, if you like your life, that's more important."