“I am spending my winter in the same city I spent last winter, Christchurch New Zealand, home of the Canterbury Wizards where ex Durham player Paul Wiseman is a coach. Last year I came across on the exchange programme that Durham have set up with Canterbury, however the decision to come back across this year was done so on my own back and with help from Tom Latham, who many will know was the first Canterbury player to come across to Durham on the exchange. I have moved clubs from St. Albans to Burnside, which is the club Tom plays for.
“The decision to come back was a hard one, after the earthquake in February which I was sadly here to experience, that day, which is up there as the worst day of my life, would have put many people off. However I really didn’t want that day to ruin what had been a great trip where I developed massively as a cricketer and met a lot of great people, and so the decision to come back was made, and was definitely the right one.
“Overall it’s safe to say the cricket hasn’t gone too well since I’ve been here, I have had four ducks for my club since I’ve been here, and some would say I’ve been in better form. But I’ve played a few decent games since I’ve been here, my best result being 4-29 off 9 and 60 against Canterbury Country who finished top of the one day league last year. Overall, the bad run of ducks is something that all cricketers will go through in their lives and I’ve learned the hard way that runs don’t come easy, something that can only serve me well for the future.
“My daily schedule is pretty relaxed as I couldn’t get a work permit so my days are pretty much made up of hitting the gym or swimming pool every day and trying to stop that horrible hook that keeps my golf handicap up in the depressing high teens. I am in the fortunate position of living with fellow Durham player Graham Clark, and if someone would please tell our parents that we are behaving ourselves and keeping our rooms tidy that would be great! Along with the golf, I am also improving my culinary skills, and would class myself somewhere between a demon and an all time great; we’ve made such classics as cottage pie and our speciality Italian meatballs.
“Overall I’m having a great time on and off the pitch, the main aim of the winter is to be a better cricketer for Durham come April, and I would say I’m doing my best to make that happen. I hope everyone at Durham and all of our supporters are all well, best wishes and a Merry Christmas from me.”