our end. Can you summarize how you feel right now? You’ve probably had enough time to take the plunge and drive south.
Thanks. I think it’s something you’ve always been striving for in your career, but never in my wildest imagination did I think I’d end up in a 410 no and join some incredible namesake. List of players: Lara, heck, Bradman…Joining this list, as I said, is truly beyond my wildest imagination. It’s been a crazy few days. You always strive for a huge personal achievement like that in your career. It was two special days – and we crowned with a great win.
To be honest, that was yesterday [when I realised]. I never thought of that day. Looking back now… multiplying six to get to 400, what do I do? I could have gotten there in a more traditional way. If I get out without hitting 400, I’ll kick myself right now. It was always a case of trying to set up the game. It was a case of seeing how many we could get. The hard work was done yesterday. me and kookie [Chris Cooke, who made 191 not out] We can go out and enjoy ourselves this morning after we got ourselves in.
not at all. I knew I needed two rounds to top Glamorgan’s highest score ever. This work was done this morning. Even equal Steve James, I was like, “Okay, I’m happy now.” Then it was about getting myself in and seeing how far I could go. I remember passing by and thinking, “333 is too good… 350 is too good, we’ll keep going.” That’s kind of the way I took it today.
Your previous highest first-class score was 191. What’s your highest score ever – did you do something ridiculous at a school or club game?
191 was my highest in every way. I had a lot more nerves in the ’90s than I did in the ’90s which seems totally silly to even talk about now. I really wanted that double. This was something I wanted off the menu in my career and in a way, I thought this would never happen. It’s not something you think about all the time, is it? “I want to get double the cent this week.” You just think, “Let’s rebuild again and keep going.” You never get enough, all my coaches have told me over the years. I think it was kind of right.
Players talk about how they feel in the zone, or as if they completed batting after turns like this. Did anything feel drastically different to you?
I spoke to my dad last night and he said it was the best he’s ever seen me play. I was like, “Really?” I said I felt fine, but not like I was on a different planet, and he would say, ‘No, that’s the best I’ve ever seen playing.’ This was coming from someone who’s seen me hit a couple of times in my career so the fact that he admitted that was nice. I didn’t really feel any difference. You obviously tried to make plans against some bowlers and to be honest, this felt like a normal day in the office – but it clearly wasn’t.
Do you have any family there today? Did your dad make the trip?
Watch every ball in the stream. He was thinking of coming today but he didn’t want to put any pressure on me – coming for doing nothing. Enjoys watching the stream. I don’t think he missed one of the balls.
not shiny [Maynard, Glamorgan’s coach] Lloyd’s [David Lloyd, captain] Kiran [Carlson, vice-captain] Basically put it to us and we said we could get another 28 rounds for Best partnership ever with the sixth wicket All the time in any cricket – “If you really want to do it, we won’t stop you”. Cookie and I had in mind that lunch is advertising and that this is what it will always be like. We’ve left to ourselves what now looks like exactly the right amount of time and the right number of rounds – it couldn’t have been better to be honest.
Perhaps it was a time when I didn’t quite know where the future was and everything seemed so uncertain. I found a really good home in Glamorgan and I’m enjoying cricket again, I couldn’t be happier at the moment. I hope everything continues on an upward trajectory. We won today and are seeking a promotion, which is great. or not [there are] More good times ahead for me and Glamorgan cricket.
How do you celebrate 410 roles that aren’t hers?
I’m literally just heading out to my buddy’s barbecue – a mate from when I was in Hampshire. I just slipped there from Leicester. We booked this so it would be great to party with some friends. It should be fun tonight and then I’ll see the family tomorrow and party a little bit more – and then come back to the county again.
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