A Test match ground but with real tradition and an attractive setting even though it is in a city
A Test match ground but with real tradition and an attractive setting even though it is in a city.What is the coldest you have ever been and how many layers did you have on?Playing in Durham in 2003 I went out wearing something like seven layers including thermal underwear and Lycra. And your least favourite? That would have to be Durham as well, but only in April. There is nowhere colder.What is your favourite county ground?As a venue, Trent Bridge takes some beating. Less cricket would mean more preparation, greater intensity and a raising of quality.What is your favourite town to visit for an away game?I always like going back to Durham It is a beautiful and I went to university there. I expect Brad Hodge to have a big season for Lancashire as well.Who is county cricket’s Golden Oldie (or the next Shaun Udal)?Whether there is another Shaun Udal on the horizon I don’t know, but the Golden Oldie of the county circuit has to be the destructive near-40-year-old Graeme Hick, whom I describe that way with a lot of respect.Should the season be starting now?And do you play too much cricket? I feel we could be starting at the end of April and going through to the end of September. He has the potential and there is no reason he could not be a contender by the end of the summer.Who is the overseas players to keep an eye out for this season?We are excited about our own overseas signing, the Pakistan pace bowler Mohammad Asif, who played against England and made such an impact against Sri Lanka.
For a player who is not yet 20 he is mentally mature and self-aware and whose cricket thinking is very good.Is there an Englishman not involved in the full England set-up who you think could force his way on to the Ashes tour?I would have to say that Stuart Broad fits that category. Teams have eras of success and Yorkshire have reached a point at which some older players have come to the end of their time. In our division, Derbyshire finished bottom last year but they have strengthened considerably.Who is the unsung player to watch out for at your club?He is not exactly unsung, but Stuart Broad is one for whom this could be a big year. Stephen Fleming has a huge influence as captain and I can see them going close to retaining their crown, but Lancashire have great depth and experience. Everyone will be expecting Surrey to do well in the Second Division.Who will struggle in the First and Second Divisions?I wonder if Yorkshire might. Signing Tim Boon as head coach was a great coup after his experience working in the England set-up and he has already brought in some innovative ideas and a strong work ethic. We have some good young players in the squad.Who will win the First and Second Divisions?Nottinghamshire work really hard and benefit from solid planning and strategy.
So I reckon 2-2, and England will retain The Ashes.Jeremy Snape Leicestershire captainHow do you see the season going for your county?We have not set any goal except to win as many games as we can, but it is an exciting time for us. The layers I had on were not that dramatic, because I had on some thermal underwear. But if you include the thermals then I had three other layers on top, and I was still cold.What will the score be in the 2006-07 Ashes?I think there is a good chance of a draw at Brisbane. I think they need to have another look at the fixture list and ensure there are three days between matches, for example, so there is a complete day without travel.What is your favourite town to visit for an away game?It is a long time since I have been there, and as long as we are talking about the place rather than the ground, I think Bath is probably my favourite town when I am away from home.And your least favourite?That has to be Canterbury.What is your favourite county ground?It doesn’t exist any longer, but I loved playing at Hampshire’s old Northlands Road ground in Southampton.What is the coldest you have ever been and how many layers did you have on?That is easy, a a practice match earlier this week against Sussex at Hove Snow everywhere I couldn’t feel my fingers it was that cold. You can have seven or eight days off in a month, then have not a day without either travelling or playing for another block. Teams do get results in the first games in April, but those results can distort the County Championship table, because many counties do not get to complete a game. I still think there is an element of too much cricket played.