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Oh, let's swing for Anderson now, what's that out?

It is out!

Stokes, flashes it away, through the covers for four, and England won the match.

Hello, welcome to the Analyst Insight Cricket with me, Simon Hughes, and I'm Simon Man.

Our special guest today is the Nottinghamshire captain and championship winning captain as well,

and of course, star batsman Hazib Hamid, who's joining us from Nottinghamshire's Tour,

a preseason tour.

Where are you?

And what's going on?

I can hear clapping in the background, so I sense there's a match happening.

Firstly, thanks for having me.

Yeah, well, I'm in Pretoria at the moment on preseason tour, so we've got a game going on.

I've just got a wicket or something that's going on.

There's a hold all that anyway.

But I'll wear a bow in today, we've actually picked up a couple of wickets this morning, which has been nice.

Yeah, back into the tour, a game to finish off.

So captain's prerogative, you're off the field doing an interview with us?

That's a priorities, I think, so.

And you've got your full squad out there, have you working together?

Yeah, most of the squad, we've got a couple of people to join us still.

Obviously, Kyle, Verain and Fergus O'Neill, we'll join us hopefully when we get back.

Brett Hutton is at home as well at the moment.

So there's a couple that are still at home, but most of the squad here.

And yeah, it's been a good trip for us.

Have you made any runs so far?

You yourself?

I've not, I'm not batting in a game, so I didn't end up batting yesterday.

Aside from that, it's been like training and stuff has been really good.

We've been lucky enough to have a middle practice on more of the days that we've trained,

which has been brilliant facing our boys out in the middle with open nets.

Well, no, it's been a nice challenge and one that, yeah, once, well, that's been really beneficial for all of us.

Do you have to change your plans, though?

Because I don't think South Africa was the original destination.

Was it for your preseason trip?

No, it wasn't.

So it was Abu Dhabi.

We'd been there last couple of years.

And I guess we were set to go there until obviously the news broke out.

And kind of last minute changes.

So I think the club did a great job to get us outdoors somewhere.

Obviously a place like here in particular, where it's been brilliant facilities.

And yeah, really good opportunities for us to train outdoors and do some work together as a team.

So yeah, it's been a good trip.

I hope actually, I hope the pitch is a better than when I played for Northern Transvalli,

or when it was called Northern Transvall in Pretoria.

And the pitch is at Berea Park, because our home ground, before they built Centurion,

and that was an absolute shit heap.

I mean, it was lethal.

I managed to get Graham Pollock out there somehow with a ball that hit some kind of bump on the pitch

and got him out, but it wasn't good.

So presumably the pitch is pretty good, are they now?

Now they've been good. They'd be really good, actually.

Like I was saying earlier, we had a little bit of rain at the start of the trip.

So we had to kind of adjust our times a little bit.

But the last few days in particular, it's actually got quite warm.

So now the wickets have been really good.

It feels like a nice bounce between a challenge for both, but as a bowlers,

which is ultimately looking for.

So that's been really good.

Good is it as a preparation when you then come back to England to play in April in England?

Those teams that go to play to Abu Dhabi and South Africa,

where the weather's warmer and the pitches are generally quite good.

And then suddenly you have to adjust.

It might be freezing cold, it might nip around, it's cloudy or whatever.

Is it just about feeling bat on ball?

Yeah, I think there's a natural adjustment whenever we get back to England.

Wherever we go, it's not quite the exact same conditions that we face back home in England.

But it is still a far much far better than being indoors, I think, leading up to that.

So I think the fact that we get out onto grass, obviously in particular for the bowlers to get miles in their legs

and get them, I guess, accustomed to bowling on grass again.

And even for us, just spending, again, the lads all spend best part of 90,

not yet over in the field today, which I think is all miles in the legs that.

I really help for going into our preseason back home, I guess.

So we've got a couple of games when we get back.

So I think they'll be really important for us as well, just to make sure we get,

especially as bad as we get used to seeing the bowl nipping and all those conditions that he's spoken about again.

But yeah, this kind of is a nice little build up to that, I think, from indoors.

What's it been like for you this winter?

Because England are being at the ashes and there's obviously the T20 World Cup

and various of your teammates, notting them, your teammates have been playing in franchise tournaments and so on.

How have you spent the winter?

Yeah, I do have been at home all winter before this.

So yeah, I guess just getting to work with the boys back at Drop Bridge.

And yeah, you kind of, I think through experience, you start to manage kind of the different phases of preseason.

You know, where as a club, we're quite clear on kind of breaking it up and separating your practices through that as well.

And there's probably quite a.

An emphasis on your physical side of it before Christmas and post, I think there's a bit more of a buildup on your cricket and skills.

And then I guess it moves into competition mode over the last couple of weeks.

So yeah, that's been, that's been nice.

I was actually looking to get away at one point, but it did quite well.

So yeah, I took my time at home, you know, and tried to it and lost it.

When does the actual preparation for the season start?

Are you saying it basically starts in kind of November time when you're doing lots of fitness work?

I mean, it's such a difference actually from the time when, when you played, isn't it?

I mean, because you, if you could sort something out and the winter is fine, otherwise you have to find a job.

Are you, you're basically obviously full time with, with knots.

So the winter is about really preparing for the next summer.

Yeah, absolutely.

I think we get around, I think six weeks where we get to kind of chill out and recover and rest from the season that we've had.

And then second or third week of November, we tend to go back in to do some fitness testing just to see where everyone's out.

And then there's probably a five week block before the Christmas break where, like I say, there's quite quite an emphasis on the physical side of it.

So you're trying to get as straight as possible to count basically over that period with some skills, skills work as well.

If you want to do that.

And then we come back kind of first or second week of Jan and start building a bit more cricket into that.

A bit more battery ball facing bowlers indoors, which can be quite tough work, but it's still important to do just to take over and.

And yes, we start kind of building towards back in the February start of March.

It becomes a bit more, a bit more competitive, I guess we were trying to hold a few sessions at Lovebro where it's a bit more open, got a bit more space to work with.

And yeah, it's very much battery ball and try to refine your game and get it ready for ultimately the challenge of April and get yourself ready to compete again in the first division.

Is that I mean, is the winter dull or because you're so far away from your cricket season, if you like, and that's really where it matters, you know, that's where you see the stats in the, you know, on the paper or online each day, the fans can turn up and watch.

What's that like? Does it feel a bit of a grind or actually, would you prefer to get away and play cricket abroad?

No, honestly, it can be, it can be difficult at times because like you say, it does feel like the season is, is really distant and your, I guess, just to use the term grinding away indoors.

But yeah, I do think there can be some really good specific work that you can do, you know, it's the way the, the clubs kind of built here.

It's more these big things around building skill in players, so you can do ties that opportunity, we've got some great cultures here who, obviously, great what to do and you can try and, I guess, have a block which sometimes can be difficult in the summers in particular where you're playing all the time.

There are areas of the game that you want to improve or explore. That's your time to do it really. So, yeah, I guess you have to, you have to purposefully think about exactly what you want to get out of the winter because it can easily pass you by and you're just there having your, having your hits and not really connecting to the things that you want to be able to engage with.

I think that is important, and I think you get that a little bit through experience as well, actually making sure that your purpose for the work that you do put in, but I do think if you do that, then there is payback as well going to the season.

What have you been working on?

Yeah, I guess a couple of different things as, you know, I've still got ambitions in my whole side of my game, so definitely an inspiration and, yeah, a little period kind of working towards that.

The fitness side of it is really important as well, so just making sure that I'm doing myself the best chance, so putting the working physically over the winter to, you know, once the season starts, the games come thick and fast.

I guess putting the work in early and then you can focus a little bit more on the skill side of it when you get closer to the season around now.

So yeah, there's sort of things.

I mean, you know, running, you know, squats, I mean, legwork, what kind of fitness do you do specifically?

Yes, for me, I think the strength side of it is really important.

I guess you're trying to keep weight on, I think he's quite a big one for me, so I will do,

I'll probably do a couple of conditioning running sessions a week, whereas a couple of the other boys will do maybe three or four.

But for me, I'll do maybe four or five dream sessions every week, compared to again three for the boys.

So, yeah, it's very individual, it's catered specifically for each player, which is where again, the staff are great.

It's very much whatever is important to you as a player, it's not a one size fits all, and I think that's where the system and the program works for us.

So yeah, that's a big one for me.

And let's talk about, you mentioned Peter Maul's before, who's obviously been your sidekick coach for the last couple of years.

And so how does that relationship, how has that relationship developed?

Because, you know, when you first took over as captain two years ago, you know, nothing of which had an average season.

And last year you became champions, deservedly so, and sort of broke the sorry monopoly.

What changed there? What things were you able to bring in between you?

You think that that improved the performance?

Yeah, I think it was a bit of natural evolution to be honest.

I think the first year, certainly for me as captain, was very much just working out exactly what captain said.

I was a little bit I think, you know, I've said I think kind of complications previously where I think as a player, you just don't see exactly what goals on behind the scenes and what's required other captain really.

And thought that goes into each decision and all that kind of stuff.

So, so yeah, I guess just having that first season under my belt and knowing exactly what it was that I was, I was into, I think helped me going into last season.

And again, I think just progression as a squad and as individual players, I think, I think we had ultimately we've got a squad of really good players in my opinion, who are now an age where I think most of the last really understand their games and, you know, coupled with some really good signings that we made as a club.

So, I think last season felt like it was a really good combination going into the season where there was a, there was probably a quiet confidence and obviously we completely recognize how tough the division and how competitive the division is and having seen had the season that we had the previous season, there wasn't, there wasn't any kind of arrogance about we're going to go on and win the championship here, but there was a quite confidence that actually if we play to our capabilities, we've got a squad of players here that can be compete and train.

Well, it'd be a difficult to see side to be for any team out there.

So, I guess, you know, we've gotten to be able to run at the start, which was great and carried that momentum through, which was ultimately a really special season.

Actually, that's a good point about the knowing your roles, because I played in a team at Middlesex that won the championship a number of times and we, I think we were quite experienced, one or two young players came in.

But in the main, it was a kind of nucleus of experienced players who are roles and we've been together a number of years.

So, kind of, there was a family sort of essence about it, which is something, I think, either more is quite big on as well, isn't he?

Yeah, absolutely. I think, I think you're right, 100%, there's a core group of players that have been together for a number of years.

Yeah, for me, I've got some great senior players around me as well, which I think helps, helps me my job massively.

And yeah, with the culture stuff that we've got the experience that they bring as well, definitely.

Like I say, Pete's really big on that culture and that family side of it.

And he's, I guess, his biggest strength is understanding each individual player and getting the best out of them.

And yeah, with the skill level that we've got plus players that feel comfortable in the environment, I feel.

Yeah, it feels like a really nice place to be paying the cricket reader.

You mentioned the sorry dinner, you know, winning it year after year.

How difficult or otherwise is it going to be for you this season as defending champions, do you think?

Okay, sir, it's going to be, it's going to be a challenge, of course.

And we know, you know, the division is really competitive again.

And yeah, we're essentially a side of different challenge last season where people will have their eyes on us a little bit more,

potentially going into the season.

But for us, the important thing is letting go a little bit of last season.

We know how incredible that was and our special that was.

Like anything in life, we move on.

It's a fresh start to the season, April the 3rd will all start on zero points over the course of 14 games.

The best team will come out on top and we need to make sure we give ourselves the best chance to to be amongst that again this season.

We talk about County cricket and its strengths and possibly its weaknesses as well.

We've seen a winter where England have gone to Australia and they've lost again, they've lost heavily.

Everyone's kind of looks around for reasons.

Is the county great again strong enough for England to compete?

Of course, they compete at international level, but to do well enough in the series overseas, I'm thinking of India and Australia.

What's your view? You've seen it from both sides, you've been a successful championship winning side.

You've played for England, you've seen that side.

You've gone to Australia and you've played in the national losing side.

All being the strange circumstances four years ago with all the COVID restrictions.

How do you evaluate the strength of the county game?

To be honest, I just look at last season and I honestly think it was as competitive a division or a season that

I've been involved in.

I mean, the one game that we lost was to Durham who went down.

That tells you how competitive the division was.

I think it's full of really good players, the county game.

There's potentially a slightly different challenging county cricket, but that doesn't mean that you can't be prepared for international cricket.

I think the best players find a way of adapting to what I was put in front of them.

I think I'm a big advocate for the county game.

I think it's great. I think it's especially for me growing up and initially getting my chance in England's side.

It was very much a case of you proved yourself at county level and you get recognised and you get international recognition.

I think the reasons why we haven't been able to compete abroad.

I think that's a question for a lot of people trying to answer, I guess, because it's always been tough in India and Australia for sure,

two of the tougher places to go to and win there.

But yeah, the county game, I think, that's not to say the county game doesn't prepare you for all challenges.

I think you can definitely prepare yourself for all challenges.

I think the other thing to understand is it's a stepping stone to international cricket.

It's not going to be a rapid curve international cricket, of course, it's not a domestic game.

I think there's enough good players within the county system, both domestically and overseas players that we get in.

That makes it really competitive.

You mentioned there an issue with county cricket in that.

It goes on all summer and therefore perhaps it chips away at an individual's resilience

because it's such a long season and that can kind of impact on your performance levels.

Do you think for you the fact that you don't play white ball too much at the moment enables you to sustain that high level of performance?

Maybe, look, I think I actually look at it as I think it builds resilience and it might be tough initially when you're getting accustomed to playing all those games.

But actually once you work out, which you will do if you want to survive in the game, that you do need to be resilient and you have to find ways of being able to perform both in April and September and everyone will be sweet.

I think that actually tough ones you're up as a player and I think there are qualities that require international level as well because

you're up to India and Australia, two tours that have been involved in the out of both physically, mentally, there's different challenges.

So again, just going back to the preparation things for it's actually a quick hit.

I think it definitely does prepare for that.

And again, especially for me as a batter but also for players but younger players in particular, I think opportunities to play as many games as you possibly can.

I think he's only a good thing.

I think I started when there were 16 coaching championship games actually, so we've actually cut down from that.

And when you're constantly playing, you're either performing well or you're constantly learning, I think.

And eventually you have to work things out.

Again, in order to stay in the team for your county because again, you've got lads pushing generally to get into that team.

So, yeah, you have to find ways to keep evolving and progressing as a player, I think.

And I think playing cricket and actually that that natural judgment that comes with playing matches is there.

And I think as a player, it's evident for you to work it out.

Sounds like you've taken another wicket there.

Certainly there was a good appeal was there.

We have.

Yeah, yeah, we have.

I think it kind of occurs.

You've got a wicket.

Very good.

Good times.

Well, that brings us a smile to your face.

Listen, we'll take a quick break and we'll talk a little bit about your own personal development afterwards.

Just to mention, you can hear this podcast add free if you go to the Crickverse on Substack.

And I also just like before we go to the break, I'd just like to mention our sister podcast Storylines.

That's Melissa Story and Nikki Childry looking at the Women's Game.

And they've done a very funny podcast looking ahead to the season.

Reflecting on actually the the Women's Auction for the 100 and some of the Astronomical sums that were delivered there.

But also talking about the smells of the summer of cricket to calm and the kind of things that awaken your enthusiasm for the game.

And also some of the smells that aren't so savory as well, like suddenly discovering your helmet in the attic that you haven't used for six months.

So this is Melissa Story and Nikki Childry just talking about the smells of summer about to arrive.

And we'll see you after the break.

Yeah, I can't wait.

I can already smell the cricket season.

What does it smell like?

Brass, pollen, hay fever.

Yeah.

Ruddy knows.

Well, on that lovely visual.

Hay fever and sausages.

That's cricket.

I finally decided to wash that in a padding of my helmet the other day because I was like, it's starting to smell a bit.

And at the moment I'm training sometimes like, I've got like five net sessions a week.

So I was like, right, let's take out this padding, stick it in the sink.

Oh my god.

It's like those videos where people get rugs off the street and they clean them.

And it's like the waters come out brown.

Like, my helmet was violent.

And I was like, no wonder you've got spots all over your face because you're literally wearing like a bin on your head five times a week.

The amount of bacteria and germs and sweat.

So please send me a spa voucher one and two.

Before the season starts, wash your kit.

Yes, you do.

You should wash it.

And yes, go get the bag down from the loft and don't smell it.

Just wash it straight away if you can.

That's my top tip.

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So has obviously you had a fantastic summer last year yourself,

as well as the county.

Does it frustrate you that the performance is in countercricut of people like you

and Dominic Sibley and others aren't necessarily recognized by the England selectors?

Have you had any contact with them?

I haven't.

And I guess going back to what I said earlier,

it has changed, probably, where previously it felt like performances in countercricut

would naturally warrant some sort of recognition of that was lying to England.

And it feels like, I don't think there'd be quite open about it,

that it has changed a little bit.

So yeah, I guess the last comes I had was for me to go about to countercricut

and score runs.

And if an opportunity was then given,

like they are doing with the current, I guess, crop of players,

they want to back players and they want to give them a long run at it.

So that's the last kind of comes I had.

When was that?

Probably.

That's probably a couple of years ago.

A couple of years ago.

Yeah.

And I mean, you develop your own game clearly.

You know, there's a nice story I saw somewhere saying that,

Maulsey, taking you into the nets and throwing you a couple of balls

and you block them back.

And he said, oh, well, I threw those balls to Joe Rue, he drove them for four.

You know, has there been a different mindset in the way that you've played

or is there a technical thing?

Yeah, I guess one can lead to another in effect, I think.

There has been, I think they, in particular, after Australia,

I think I made quite a conscious decision with regards to my mindset.

And I think naturally, then you find your body finds ways of

giving yourself the best chance.

So I actually put balls into pressure or school or school more.

So yeah, I guess they both go hand in hand a little bit.

But yeah, I guess to be able to do that with someone like Maulsey

who's worked with, you know, some of the best players in the world

and has got a wealth of experience within the game is brilliant.

And you know, not only myself, I think he's benefited so many people here

in terms of their development in their games.

And again, I think that's a massive part of why we had the success that we did last year.

Joe Rue actually said, when he went through this period in his test career

where he wasn't converting, you know, 50s into hundreds,

he said he looked at the elite players, you know, the Steve Smiths

and Kane Williamson's and Virat Kohli's and so on,

and tried to draw out, you know, the essences of their game that could benefit his.

Have you done that at all?

Have you looked at other players and thought, well, I could do this, you know,

better, like such and such?

Yeah, to be honest, I've always been someone that's bought deeply about the game

I guess, admired a lot of different players over the course of my career.

And you are constantly watching other players and there's things

that you can pick out from so many unbelievable players in the world right now.

But I think the important thing you also work out with that is it's got to fit your game.

And everyone's unique and has different ways of doing things.

Just making sure that you're authentic to your style of play.

I think he's really important as well.

And as much as you want to add bits from other people's games and you can,

and they can be of huge benefit.

I think ultimately, I think it's got to fit your game as well.

And you've got to be comfortable with it and it's got to be something that comes

relatively naturally to you as well.

You can't add off, you can force too many things into your game.

So I think there's a balance there to be struck, but for sure,

I think there's a lot of plays that you can take last round as well.

Do you feel you're a much better player than when you last played for England?

I'm thinking that actually a series four years ago.

Do you considerably improve your game, do you think?

Yeah, I'd like to think so.

Yeah, that's obviously it's been a decent length of time now.

So four or a bit years, I think maybe.

So yeah, you know, that matured.

I think I was 24 by the time I paid my last test match for England.

And I'm not just saying 29.

Naturally, I think you mature as a player, as a person, you understand.

And I think actually having those different experiences that I had.

So early on in my career, really.

Yeah, I think it's been super valuable for me because I think it.

I think it gives so much perspective.

You have to grow up fast because it's, you know, that Australia,

towing particular was a real tough one for all of us.

Again, for me, in particular, of course, it was a really tough experience.

And you need a level of resilience to come back from that field.

And, you know, the fact that I've been able to come back and perform for notes.

And I feel like I have developed my game and evolved as a player, hopefully.

Show us that, you know, hopefully I've still got my best shares, you know, ahead of me.

And I definitely feel that way.

So although you've had two goals for England now,

I mean, presumably you're still, you still feel at a confident you're in the frame.

Yes, still a chance for third goal.

Oh, that I said that's for.

I guess I've got no control over that.

So whether whether I am or not, I'm not sure.

But for me right now, the focus is very much doing my thing for notes.

I've got obviously massive responsibilities with the Capsules as well.

So, you know, for me, the absolute focus is focus is around that.

I'm trying to contribute in as many ways as I can for notes.

But that ambition for England always be there.

I've said it on a number of occasions.

Yeah, I think that ambition will will be there for as long as I keep playing.

So that I know one thing, one thing leads to another.

So yeah, the focus is primarily right now on what I've got in front of me.

Andrew Strauss made his test debut age 27.

And he scored up.

He played 100 tests.

You already got 10 heads start there.

I know you're 29.

But I mean, that's, you know, you're in the first flush of youth, 29.

You look like a spring chicken.

I like to think so.

I feel that way.

One thing that's that you used to happen.

You'll remember this years back in the day.

Is that players were selected based on their skill set for overseas tours.

So, for example, I see when you played in India, I thought this guy is such a good player

who's been bowling.

So do you think there is a way open to come back and play for England?

On saying, I'm not saying only on overseas tours, the subcontinent.

But actually, that that is a real sort of avenue, potential avenue back into the side.

Or would you say, actually, will I develop my all-round game now?

I could go to Australian and score runs.

I like to think so on until you end up facing those challenges.

You'll never know.

But in my opinion, I do feel like I've improved my all-round game.

It probably shown in the numbers, I guess, in the county game of the last three years.

And obviously, we spoke about the different challenges.

But still, I think my numbers within the county game are probably better now than there were

when I first got sets of England.

So yeah, no, I do feel like I've improved my all-round game.

Yeah, I guess the idea of, I guess, horses for courses a little bit more.

I'm not sure, but I like to think that I've got a game that can score runs in our conditions.

And I suppose looking at Joe Root, he's improved his game after that kind of dip in the 21-22s of era.

And one thing I've noticed with him is the fitness he's managed to maintain.

There was that innings he played in that one-day international, wasn't there?

When he got 160 and took England to the winning over the winning line.

And his running between the wickets was incredible.

And I think I noticed last year who really busy between the wickets.

Was that something that, if you're not a powerful striker of the ball,

sort of that crawly type, then in a way that kind of what I suppose you could call your short game,

a bit like golf, you know, the putting and the chipping,

the pushing for singles and working hard to keep the scoreboard moving.

It's probably a key thing for you.

What you've said, yeah.

And obviously Root's a great example of someone that just understands their game so well.

And it's a master of that game.

And obviously he's, like you say, he feels like he's a great example in terms of someone

that's constantly improving.

Obviously he's a little bit older than me,

but he feels like he's just getting better and better, which is freakish really,

because he's been an incredible player for so long already.

But yeah, for sure, I think, I guess going back to what I said earlier,

I think you've got to make it work and see all the games.

Yeah, for me, there's different ways of scoring runs at a rate.

And for sure, you have to be able to manage different passages of play

and all that kind of stuff.

But yeah, being able to, I guess, be busy and try and take as many opportunities to score runs.

If that means you have to run them, then, yeah, start running them and trying,

yeah, try and put pressure back on like that.

So do you think you could fit into the, the sort of bad ball kind of ethos,

although it's been a bit more nuanced, I suppose, recently, hasn't it?

Yeah, I think that's just a few times actually, which is right, it's making me smile.

And I do, look, whenever I was involved, I guess with the line stuff,

when there were conversations around what that actually means,

for me, it's the art of batting.

You have to be able to circle pressure when you need to and then apply pressure when you need to.

And that's ultimately, I think, what the best players in the world do, right?

Oh, yeah, whether that matches what, you know, is often kind of seen or spoken about,

I'm not sure, but that's what was shared with me.

And I feel like that's something that I've,

far kept being able to show the count again, at least, of last few seasons.

Well, draw to a close fairly soon, I see.

But one moment that really struck me last season was at the over on that Kruthal match.

I'm talking about captain, you know, when Tom Curran came out on that,

on that final day, he was smacking it around.

And you made the decision to bring on a spinner.

And as it turned out, the only over a spin in the whole match.

And Tom Curran couldn't help himself and was stumped.

Just go back to that moment as a captain.

So your whole season is kind of on the line there, wasn't it, in that, in that session.

What were you, what were you thinking as Tom Curran was kind of beginning to take the girl,

potentially take the game away from you?

Yeah, it felt like they had a lot of momentum going their way.

And they're obviously two really dangerous players in Tom Curran and Dan Lawrence

and had got a partnership going.

And it was not only the runs that they were scoring, it was the rate that they were scoring the match.

And it felt like we'd only seen, seen bold throughout the whole game, right?

So it was all one pace, it felt.

And it felt like they had quite a nice rhythm to that.

Well, I guess just a little bit of got instinct trying to change it up.

And see what happens, to be honest.

It's a bit of a punt, you know, honesty.

You take a bit of a punt on that stage.

I guess actually speaking to one of the boys when I mentioned it, it was you want to,

you want to leave enough runs on the board to give the spinner a chance.

You don't want to do it with 20 left and, you know, it feels like it's a little bit too late.

So I think we still had around 70 on runs to play with there.

Like that was a, that was a time to basically take a bit of a, a bit of a punt really.

And thankfully it went the way it did.

Credit to Liam for, I guess, been ready for the opportunity.

I think Kyle took on a Louisville stumping as well.

So, yeah, thank for the things worked out.

Do you make that decision yourself?

Well, did he chat to somebody teammates?

Do you think it's time for spin or do you think I'm right?

No, got right.

Now is the time for spin.

No, I remember, I remember, I obviously made the decision.

And I remember Lyndon James was close to me at one point.

I think I wasn't mid on, he might have been a mid wicket.

And I said, and he was like, yeah, I like it.

And that was maybe just something I needed for me to like fully just come right.

So, so yeah, no, it was, it was good.

And always like, I've got, like I've said earlier, I've got, I've got, I've got,

I believe it will land around me with quick, quick brain as well.

So if there's anything I'm not shy to, I'm never shy to get a second opinion or whatnot.

But we certainly felt strong, strong and that are the same.

And that's right, Paul.

Mike, really was my captain and the first couple of years.

And it was one occasion when you wouldn't be allowed to do this now.

But we were struggling to get a wicket.

And he brought himself on to bowl lobs.

I mean, now there would be no ball.

But in those days, you could actually bowl a sort of moon ball,

like a bit like the Sam Curran slower balls, but really high.

And he put everyone on the boundary.

And in fact, it was against Leicestershire.

And there was a very aggressive batsman for Leicestershire called Brian Davison.

He was a really good player, actually. He's in Barwin.

And he was smacking it everywhere.

And nearly put all the men on the, the boundary, bowl these lobs.

And the batsman sort of looked at them for a couple of balls.

And sort of thought, what is he doing?

And then he had a smack at one and got caught.

So it was on sort of a mad plan that worked.

So it's great that you, that that came off.

And brilliant for the artist spin, actually, Simon,

because that's something that you want to see more or don't you?

Yeah, absolutely.

Absolutely in kind of cricket.

Yeah.

I mean, so as a captain, how do you feel about spin?

Because I mean, you look at sorry.

I mean, they often play five scenes.

I'm not saying we should stop my criticism.

Sorry, that works for them.

But you think of the fact that England don't produce enough spin ball

level to have a decisive impact.

How do you see spin?

So I think it's been played a massive role for us in winning it last year

to be completely honest.

And I think we're very fortunate we've got, you know,

two of the better spinners in the country, my opinion,

and the impact of the right who's currently who finished the season

as our number one spinner.

But Farhan Ahmed as well, who's obviously still really young,

just turned 18.

But he played a massive role right at the start of last season.

Both in control in the game.

But I remember one game early on in particular.

I think it was Sussex.

But if I'm not wrong, one of the lads might have had a little niggle

one of our seamers.

And I think we were only playing three seamers at games as well.

So I brought him onto a short leg side boundary to,

I think it was Dan Hughes and Tom Haines.

Two last handers.

And he did an unbelievable job.

Firstly, not going for many runs.

But I think he ended up with for on a seeming wicket,

in all honesty.

Then the little moments that can sometimes be overloads

when you, like Farhan, unfortunately,

ended up out of the side towards the back end.

But yeah, like he played such a massive role

at the start of last season as did the one he came into the side,

both with bat and ball.

So, yeah, for me, as a captain,

but for us in particular, I think it was,

yeah, spin was huge and pivotal in the role that they played

over the course of the season.

Lesson for sorry there, maybe actually.

Just one final thought.

The 100 auction happened last week, obviously,

to lots of publicity.

You weren't part of that.

How do you feel about that?

How do you feel about seeing players, you know,

being sold for 390,000?

Or indeed, players expecting to get high bids

and getting low bids.

Is it in a way quite a relief to not be kind of on tend to hook,

seeing what price you go for,

or is there just a hint of envy that you wish you were part of it?

Honestly, I was just pretty relaxed about it all.

There was also a couple of lads in the auction

who were kind of cheering for,

and I had some gear ended up with a nice little price,

deserved the soul as well.

But yeah, honestly, it was just,

I didn't care which thoughts all to be honest.

It was coming on.

I was pretty chilled about it,

pushing well for the lads that were around me,

and that was it really.

Good on you.

That's a good attitude.

I've got one final question for you, actually,

unless you have Simon.

I'd like to know,

and I think we're going to ask every guest this from now on.

I've just decided this.

Who would you like to be as a player

if you could be anybody in the game

that you've either heard about,

read about,

or seen in the future,

seen in the past?

Who would you like to be as a player, really?

That's a whole question.

I'm in Don Bradman.

It could be Mark Marshall,

Dale Stain,

Andrew Flintop.

Give us one player

that you may be growing up.

You thought, wow,

I'd love to be there.

Yeah, I think,

I think growing up,

obviously, I was massive,

a massive fan of Sachin Tendolka,

but now that you've asked the question,

for me,

it's a bit of a ridges from Simon,

because I think the way he went about it,

also, obviously, the player that he was,

unbelievable,

but also, I think,

he's fired going the way he went about it

and then back it up,

and saw the stories that he had here.

Yeah, just kind of,

he was like,

miles ahead of his time really, really.

And the only shame is that he wasn't,

yeah,

there was no kind of IPL during his time,

because he had made a lot of money for it as well,

but,

oh, you might still have a lot of money,

I'm not sure actually,

but,

but now, the way he,

the way he kind of lived it,

was pretty cool.

I'd be cool to experience for,

even if it wasn't day.

Great answer.

Excellent choice.

Yeah.

I see, thanks very much indeed.

Thanks very much indeed for your time.

Thanks again for having me.

Yeah, good luck with the end of your pre-season tour,

and preparations for the new season.

I think we're all,

we're looking on fascinated to see

how the season goes,

but not as,

depending on champions with lots of other teams,

you know,

looking to snap at your heels,

I'm sure as well,

but,

and good luck with your own,

personal ambitions as well,

and trying to get back in the,

the thing inside by scoring,

lots of runs.

Thanks very much indeed for your time.

Yeah, I'm just give us a score,

finally, by the way,

and,

and who are you playing against, by the way?

You know what,

we're playing against,

I think it's a Titans 11.

I'm not sure it's their first team,

because I think they've got a 50-year-old

composition going on,

but,

there's no score,

there's no scorecard or scoreboard.

So I can't,

I can't get this goal,

unfortunately.

Right.

I think we've taken five or six wickets,

which has been nice to see.

Well, they don't need,

they're captain on the field then,

they're doing all right.

Oh, yeah.

Listen, have a nice break,

and obviously work hard,

as well,

and we'll see you in the season starts,

and as a Simon said,

good luck with it all.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

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