Initially employed as an MCC Young Professional at Lord's in 1984, he was selling scorecards one minute, and then the next fielding as 12th man substitute fielder for the 1984 Lord´s Test match involving England vs West Indies.
[2] Together with Guy Lovell, Topley took part in an interview with the Sunday Mirror stating that during matches against Lancashire, Essex were approached by the opposing team and accepted their offer of throwing one match in the Sunday League in return for Lancashire throwing the two sides' next encounter in the County Championship.
In this capacity he helped Zimbabwe to upset England in a group match at the 1992 Cricket World Cup, placing him in the unusual position of helping to defeat England's captain Graham Gooch who was also his county captain at Essex.
[1] This match occurred between Gooch and Topley combining on the same side in Essex's triumphs in the County Championship in 1991 and 1992.
[2] Today Topley commentates on the domestic game of cricket, and is often found on the after dinner speaking circuit.