[Continuity of selection] helps, ... You don't want to be going out there thinking, 'This could be your last game, if you don't get a wicket you're out'. In the last 12 to 18 months this team has done some special things because we've been consistent in selection. Fletch and [Michael] Vaughan have a lot of faith in the people they select. |
[It is not a comfort zone; as Chris Read and Graham Thorpe discovered, players do get dropped. But rookies get a run first and changes are usually made with a view to the long term. The team have thus been able to grow together and bond. The side Giles came into was a wary one with some players playing primarily for themselves, an inevitable consequence of chop-and-change team selection. Now they are a team.] It's a completely different atmosphere to '98, ... It's much more professional and we are much more together. I found it quite tricky in '98. No disrespect to anyone in that side, because players made me feel welcome, but it was very disjointed. Now we are basically another county team. We know each other that well. We've played that much cricket together. |
a very good trip for team bonding because there wasn't a lot to do apart from watching films and talking. |
All sorts of thoughts go through your head, 'this can't be happening to us, we don't deserve this' but Hoggy held his nerve and when you are out there you do feel you are in control. |
But when the surgeon went in there was more there than we expected, there was a bit of arthritis. |
Everyone is on edge, the dressing room is very quiet and it is a 'this can't be happening to us' sort of scenario. |
I don't think I'll score more important runs in my career and I don't think Hoggy will hit a better extra cover drive in his career. |
I don't think we realise the importance of what's happened yet, but hopefully we will in two weeks' time, |
I haven't been able to sleep for months because I was too tense. Now I can't sleep at night because I'm too excited. |
It is a lot worse sitting up there than it was in the middle, |
It will be very hot and humid and the Indians are very good players of spin. It's going to be a tough trip. |
It's a completely different atmosphere to '98. It's much more professional and we are much more together. I found it quite tricky in '98. No disrespect to anyone in that side, because players made me feel welcome, but it was very disjointed. Now we are basically another county team. We know each other that well. We've played that much cricket together. |
It's a lot worse sitting in the dressing room than it is out in the middle. Once you're out there you feel you're a little bit in control of the situation but if Shane Warne's bowling like that it's a little bit tricky. |
It's fantastic for the game, hopefully we have done a lot for it already and hopefully we can do a bit more yet. |
It's one of those ones you want to bowl every ball. I think I bowled a couple last year that were pretty good at tricky times. |