Final over
On the Spot
Date of Birth: 14/04/1984 Marital Status: Married Former Clubs: Durham, Northants, Western Province
The Last
Bat you bought/used? I bought an SM a couple of years ago as a back-up when I was going on tour. I’m still using it, it’s hung in there but, to be fair, I didn’t use it for about a year and it’s the best one I’ve ever had. Song you listened to? Ed Sheeran’s Shape Of You – it was on the radio when I was driving earlier. Five-wicket haul or century? Five-wicket haul because I enjoy them more seeing as I’m a batsman. My last was a few years ago for Durham 2nds against Northants in a one-day fixture. My fifth wicket was my ex-Durham teammate, Luke Evans, which made it sweeter. Injury? A side injury from trying to bowl too much. It’s a funny thing, most batters often enjoy their bowling and I certainly do but maybe my body isn’t up to it anymore. Trophy you won? Last year Scotland actually shared the T20 qualifying trophy with Holland because the final day was rained off.
The Jury’s Out
Tea or Coffee? It’s probably coffee, although I’m in a bit of a transition towards tea at the minute. Caribbean with the missus or Magaluf with the lads? I’ll be safe and go Caribbean with the missus, just in case she reads the paper! Red or white wine? Red, and in terms of what I buy – it’s pretty much price dependent normally. 50-over, t20 or County Championship? 50-over because of my personal success in that format.
Time added on
Who did you support as a boy? I supported Aberdeen FC and added an English team, which was Arsenal. I started liking Arsenal at 13 and I was never a huge follower but always like to see that they’re doing all right. In cricket, I always liked Warwickshire and Kent – Warwickshire because my family background is from South Africa and Allan Donald played there and Kent because I’ve got family relatives down there. Best coach you ever worked with? Geoff Cook at Durham. He knew my game inside out and there was a transitional period when I could have gone two ways but he had a massive impact on my decision. The most nervous when next into bat? Scotland’s Michael Leask who’s now at Somerset. I remember watching a T20 on TV and he was next in to bat and his eyes couldn’t have been open any wider! One rule you could change? If there was a no ball, the next delivery would have to be underarm or a full toss because of the free hit. Three words to describe yourself? Social, jokey and responsible. It’s all about finding the balance between being a leader and still being yourself, which would be my social and jokey side. Which TV pundit makes you cringe and which do you really listen to? Rob Key and David Lloyd are my favourites. Bob Willis intentionally stirs the pot sometimes, he pushes the boundaries but he’s given that licence to do so. Do you have any superstitions? Any occasion when I can touch my bat at the crease I will – as if to say ‘I’m safe, you can’t get me out now’. When I go out to bat, once I cross the line, I swing my arms around. Hobbies? Time with my daughter, trying to get her playing any sort of activity or sport!
And finally
Who is the worst dressed player at the club? I’m going to have to say John Chambers, who plays at my local club Benwell in the North East PL. He wears multi-coloured Ibiza T-shirts on nights out but he’s more the ‘retired, going for a full English breakfast’ type.