Getting to Know: Chris Tremlett (original) (raw)

Chris Tremlett is a selected member of the World A Team England A Team 2006.

Chris Tremlett is a selected member of the World A Team England A Team 2006. Thanks to the County that Chris plays for, Hampshire, we managed to get in touch with him and were given the opportunity to ask him a few questions.

The Tremlett name is one that has been synonymous with cricket since Chris’ grandfather, Maurice, made his test debut in 1948. Chris’ dad was a stalwart bowler and decent bat for Hampshire and Chris is continuing the tradition of the family by providing solid bowling for Hampshire. Delivering the ball from an arm's length higher than 6ft 7in, Chris provides a stern test to even the most talented and stubborn of batsmen.

Consistent performances for Hampshire in 2004 and 2005 saw him awarded with his debut England One Day International cap against Bangladesh at Nottingham in June 2005. A successful spell of 4 – 32 in that match was nearly topped off by a hat-trick on debut, as he put the Bangladeshi batting line up under pressure on a good batting wicket.

Chris has been called up for several England representative teams since; most notably for England’s tour to Pakistan in late 2005 and for the Commonwealth Bank series in Australia at the start of 2007. On both occasions, Chris was restricted by injuries that occurred at the most inopportune of moments, restricting him to only five further one day internationals since that stunning debut against Bangladesh.

The start to the County Cricket season for Chris was held up due to the lower back injury he sustained during the Commonwealth Bank Series. Chris has recently been back in action for Hampshire and the World A Team selectors are looking forward to him having a successful and injury-free season.

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Q1. How were you first introduced to cricket, and what about the game got you hooked? How has being part of a famous cricketing family helped your career?

Chris Tremlett: I played most sports when I was younger but got the most enjoyment from cricket. Cricket seemed to come more naturally. In terms of being part of a famous cricketing family, it did help being around cricketers who gave me lots of advice and useful tips but looking back now it also helped that they were always giving me lots of encouragement.

Q2. What hobbies/sports do you get up to when not playing or training for cricket?

Chris: I play golf with other members of the Hampshire team.

Q3. Who are your favourite cricketers of all time, and which cricketer do you think influenced your own style the most?

Chris: Glenn McGrath is my favourite cricketer of all time and my dad has had the most influence on my style of play and on my career as a whole. More recently, Bruce Reid has also helped me to develop my bowling in his time at Hampshire.

Q4. What has been your own personal highlight from your career so far?

Chris: Playing for England in One Day International cricket.

Q5. How important do you think training and participating in matches overseas is? What overseas teams have you played for and what have you learnt from the experience?

Chris: In my opinion, it is extremely important for young players to experience cricket overseas. I have been lucky enough to play in Australia with the National Academy and for Melville Cricket Club in Perth, Western Australia. Training in these situations is hard and both playing and practice sessions are very competitive. It is not easy and you have to work hard to get your rewards.

Q6. What are your views on 20:20 cricket?

Chris: Twenty 20 cricket is exciting. We get to play in front of big crowds which the majority of players never experience. It is entertaining cricket and tends to attract a younger audience which can only be a good thing for the game especially for the future.

Q7. What is your opinion on overseas players playing in county cricket?

Chris: I think that the good overseas players help to maintain high standards within County Cricket, but with the number of Kolpak players seemingly on the increase, reducing the number of overseas players from two to one in 2008 is probably the correct thing to do. [Kolpak players do not count as overseas players, but are not qualified to play for England. The Kolpak Ruling was a decision made in the European Courts whereby people from countries which have an active trade agreement with the European Union are eligible for employment with the EU]

Q8. Who has been the greatest influence on your cricket career?

Chris: My dad.

Q9. What is your nickname, and how did you get it?

Chris: Goober. My nickname was given to me by Dimitri Mascarenhas.

Q10. If you were given the opportunity, what would you change in order to improve the standard of county cricket?

Chris: I think that there has to be less cricket played at the top level in County Cricket. By reducing the amount of four day matches played and by streamlining the one day cricket competitions, it can be ensured that all matches remain highly competitive throughout the season. Given the current amount of cricket played, players do tend to get tired and injured as a result. If the amount of cricket was reduced, then hopefully the amount of injuries can be reduced.

Q11. What aspirations do you have outside of cricket?

Chris: At the moment I am just concentrating on my cricketing career.

Q12. How much would playing for a England 'A' Team mean to you? Do you see the 'A' team as a stepping stone to full honours, or as a side-show detracting from county and full international cricket?

Chris: The A team is definitely a stepping stone to full international cricket. It does mean a lot as you expect the next best players to full honours to be selected for the A team.

Q13. You suffered an injury during the CB Series in Australia. How much of a set back has this turned out to be, and how did you go about trying to recover from the injury?

Chris: It was extremely frustrating to sustain the back injury towards the end of the CB Series in Australia. Other bowlers have come to the fore and have taken their opportunity. It has been a slow process to get back to full fitness and has involved lots of hard training but I have received lots of support and am delighted and very happy to be back playing again.

Q14. Are there any young players around that you are aware of that could be knocking on the door for Test selection in the future?

Chris: Joe Denly at Kent and Adil Rashid at Yorkshire look very impressive.

Q15. What do you think you need to do to get noticed by the national team selectors and how do you think the appointment of Peter Moores will change the England setup?

Chris: If I stay fit, bowl well and take plenty of wickets in County Cricket, then I think I will get noticed. Peter Moores is very well organised, thoroughly professional and will bring plenty of enthusiasm and fresh ideas to the role.

Q16. Having Shane Warne at Hampshire has obvious benefits for the spinners in the team, but what sort of advice or tips has he passed on to the fast bowlers and in what ways has he helped your game?

Chris: Shane is a very positive guy. He only thinks about winning and I believe that I have become a more aggressive bowler under his captaincy.

Q17. How did you find the Hong Kong Sixes in 2004? Did you learn anything from the experience and do you think that the Sixes has a future on the international calendar?

Chris: The Hong Kong Sixes were great fun, especially as we won the tournament. It also gave me my first opportunity to play against other international teams in a very competitive environment. It was a real thrill to be representing England for the first time. Like Twenty 20 cricket it is a very exciting format and providing it is not overdone it has its place in the international calendar.

Q18. What do you think you need to do to get noticed by the national team selectors?

Chris: Staying fit over a long period of time is probably the most important thing at the moment. I have had my fair share of injuries but by bowling lots of overs and taking wickets hopefully I can get noticed by the selectors again.

Once again, thanks to Chris for agreeing to take part in our interview and answer our questions. Thanks also to his county Hampshire and to Tim Tremlett, for putting us in touch with Chris. The interview was carried out and published by Andy Mellon. We wish Chris good luck for the season ahead, and hope to see him clear of injuries and back in form and in the England squad before long.