Interviews with NSW Players

[Andy Mellon]

Hi. Following the completion of the W-A-T Australia A Team, I've e-mailed all the Aussie states for request to send a questionnaire to their players. I've received a response from Cricket New South Wales who are willing to send the NSW players selected for the Australia A Team a questionnaire as posed by us.

Obviously the relevant players are Phil Jaques, Dominic Thornley, Brad Haddin and Nathan Bracken. What I'm really looking for is some specific questions that we can ask each player. I was going to base the questionnaire on the one already posed to Will Jefferson in terms of basic generic questions, but to make it interesting, I need your insight on these players to make the questions particularly relevant.

Please post on this thread any ideas for questions you think we should ask and which player the question should be addressed to.

[Paoli]

Okay....

1. How satisfying was this years Pura Cup win following recent domestic disappointments?
2. For Bracken, How disappointing has it been to be somewhat left in the cold for the Australian team??
3. For Haddin, Do you ever see yourself playing as a wicket keeper and Gilchrist as a batsman in the Australian side together?
4. For Thornely, After some early brilliant performances, your form tapered off slightly when given the chance to play for Australia A. Was it big stage nerves or just a couple of ordinary games?
5. For Jaques, your form in England is exemplary during the county season, but until this year you had performed quite bleakly for New South Wales. What was the hardest thing about the transition?

That'll do me fine.

[Zainub]

I'll like to put my questions to Brad Hiddin:

How satisified or dissatisfied are you from the way you peformed in the last chance you got to represent Australia, that was in the VB Series this year?
What's the best catch you've ever taken?

[Beny]

Great Job Andy! I was'nt sure that they would bite.


For all players:

1. Where do you see yourself playing in say, 5 years time?

[Leafy Seadragon]

Echo the sentiment. I would be interested to ask who the players think are the best players outside the test team - the A-team's A-team. I'd also be interested in knowing who the potential future champions are (and why) and who they see as the most under-rated player in Aus. Asa generic question, possibly consider asking what the players see as the step(s) they need to make to step up to the test side. I've got a couple of specifics for a few others in the team, but I'll raise those if/when you get responses

[Andy Mellon]

Based on the responces so far, and filling in some generic questions, the questionnaire will be along these lines:

Generic:
Where do you see yourself playing in say, 5 years time?
Who do you think the best players are that are currently outside the test team?
Who do you think is the most under-rated player in Australia at the moment?
What do you think you could do to prove to the Australia selectors that you are capable of the jump up to test level?
How satisfying was this years Pura Cup win following recent domestic disappointments?
How were you first introduced to cricket, and what about the game got you hooked?
Who has been the greatest influence on your cricket career?
How important do you think training and participating in matches overseas is? What other countries have you played in and what have you learnt from the experience?
Who are your favourite cricketers of all time, and which cricketer do you think influenced your own style the most?
When you retire as a player what career path are you likely to take - coaching, administration, media or something outside of cricket?
What advice would you give to youngsters to encourage them to take up cricket?
Are there any young players around that you are aware of that could be knocking on the door for Test selection in the future?
What hobbies/sports do you get up to when not playing or training for cricket?
What is your nickname and how did you get it?
What would you say your cricketing highlight has been in your career so far?
Who do you think will be the key players in this summer's ashes and what do you expect the scoreline to be at the end of the series?

Haddin:
Do you ever see yourself playing as a wicket keeper and Gilchrist as a batsman in the Australian side together?
How satisified or dissatisfied are you from the way you peformed in the last chance you got to represent Australia, that was in the VB Series this year?
What's the best catch you've ever taken?

Thornley:
After some early brilliant performances, your form tapered off slightly when given the chance to play for Australia A. Was it big stage nerves or just a couple of ordinary games?

Bracken:
How disappointing has it been to be somewhat left in the cold for the Australian team?
As a bowler, who do you think the most difficult batsman to bowl to has been in your career?
Who in cricketing history would you like an opportunity to bowl at?

Jaques:
Your form in England is exemplary during the county season, but until this year you had not performed quite as well for New South Wales. What was the hardest thing about the transition?
Do you feel there's a large gulf between the quality of first class cricket in England and Australia?
What would you say is the major reason for Australian cricketers performing so well in English County Cricket?