'Everyone needs time to settle'
The Wednesday interview with Alex Tudor
28-Jul-2004
Amid all the euphoria about England's burgeoning pace attack, one name has been largely forgotten - Alex Tudor, who was just 20 years old when he scalped both Waugh twins on his Test debut at Perth in 1998-99. He was widely expected to lead England's attack into the new millennium, before a litany of injuries disrupted his progress. Now, however, he is once again on the comeback trail with Surrey, and Andrew Miller caught up with him at The Oval:
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It's good to see you back in first-team cricket - what's it taken to reach this stage?
It's been a long slog, and it's involved a lot of hard work with the backroom staff and my trainer, and a lot of support from my family and girlfriend. They've all helped me through it, and fortunately I still seem to be good enough to make it all worthwhile. At the moment it feels a bit like pre-season training - sometimes I wake up feeling a bit stiff and sore, but that's all part of the rehabilitation process.
It's been a long slog, and it's involved a lot of hard work with the backroom staff and my trainer, and a lot of support from my family and girlfriend. They've all helped me through it, and fortunately I still seem to be good enough to make it all worthwhile. At the moment it feels a bit like pre-season training - sometimes I wake up feeling a bit stiff and sore, but that's all part of the rehabilitation process.
What exactly was the nature of your injury?
I was diagnosed with a muscular problem in my lower back and hip region. The specialist discovered some imbalances there, and I took time out for some investigative work, which showed a lot of weaknesses in my left side. These all needed a lot of strengthening and so my trainer's been on my case with a new diet, which I'm not entirely happy about! Still, it seems to be working, and I've lost about a stone-and-a-half in about four weeks. So everything's going well, and I feel all the better for it.
I was diagnosed with a muscular problem in my lower back and hip region. The specialist discovered some imbalances there, and I took time out for some investigative work, which showed a lot of weaknesses in my left side. These all needed a lot of strengthening and so my trainer's been on my case with a new diet, which I'm not entirely happy about! Still, it seems to be working, and I've lost about a stone-and-a-half in about four weeks. So everything's going well, and I feel all the better for it.
Have you ever had Troy Cooley helping you with your bowling action?
Yeah, I worked with him at the academy in the first and second years, although obviously I've been out of the England picture for a while. But I've got Geoff Arnold here at Surrey who's brilliant and has known me all my career, and it's just good to work with someone who you trust and can rely on.
Yeah, I worked with him at the academy in the first and second years, although obviously I've been out of the England picture for a while. But I've got Geoff Arnold here at Surrey who's brilliant and has known me all my career, and it's just good to work with someone who you trust and can rely on.
You started life as an out-and-out quick, but what type of bowler will you come back as?
I guess when I was younger I was more carefree, and just ran up and bowled as fast as I possibly could. But as you get older, you come up against better batsmen, and it's soon clear that the most important thing is control. The great bowlers of the past have all been capable of rapid deliveries, but it's line and length that gets batsmen out. Ambrose, Pollock, McGrath, Walsh - they were all tall and capable of dangerous deliveries, but day in, day out, it was their good length that frustrated the batsmen into mistakes. That's what I'll look to do. Obviously I'll still have the ability to bowl quick spells, but it's control of a cricket ball that is the most important thing. If you hit a good length more often that not, you get the rewards.
I guess when I was younger I was more carefree, and just ran up and bowled as fast as I possibly could. But as you get older, you come up against better batsmen, and it's soon clear that the most important thing is control. The great bowlers of the past have all been capable of rapid deliveries, but it's line and length that gets batsmen out. Ambrose, Pollock, McGrath, Walsh - they were all tall and capable of dangerous deliveries, but day in, day out, it was their good length that frustrated the batsmen into mistakes. That's what I'll look to do. Obviously I'll still have the ability to bowl quick spells, but it's control of a cricket ball that is the most important thing. If you hit a good length more often that not, you get the rewards.
You're still only 26 - on current evidence, that is precisely the right age for England to come calling, which must be encouraging?
Yes, it is, and it's proof that we all need time to establish ourselves. Look at Steve Harmison, who I've grown up with at Under-19 level. It's only now that he's got the belief and the backing from the management. He knows he's going to play, and at last he feels he belongs. There's been a lot of hard work on his part and from the backroom staff, but the way he's come on is great to see. And that's the case with all the current team - Hoggard's on hand to bowl the longer spells, Flintoff and Jones are established as well, and Anderson's waiting on the fringes.
Yes, it is, and it's proof that we all need time to establish ourselves. Look at Steve Harmison, who I've grown up with at Under-19 level. It's only now that he's got the belief and the backing from the management. He knows he's going to play, and at last he feels he belongs. There's been a lot of hard work on his part and from the backroom staff, but the way he's come on is great to see. And that's the case with all the current team - Hoggard's on hand to bowl the longer spells, Flintoff and Jones are established as well, and Anderson's waiting on the fringes.
It's early days of your comeback, but are you optimistic of an England recall?
I still believe I can get there and play for England again. If I didn't, I don't know what I'd do. I'm still pretty young - fast bowlers tend not to peak or know their own game until they're 27 or so, so I've got a lot of belief in myself. Everything feels fine about my game, I'm getting stronger with every appearance, and if I keep putting in the performances for Surrey, who knows what can happen? I know there's a long list of bowlers waiting in the wings - there's Sajid Mahmood, [Chris] Tremlett of Hampshire, Steve Kirby. They are all bowling very well, and nobody has a God-given right to get into the side. But I can only keep doing my best.
I still believe I can get there and play for England again. If I didn't, I don't know what I'd do. I'm still pretty young - fast bowlers tend not to peak or know their own game until they're 27 or so, so I've got a lot of belief in myself. Everything feels fine about my game, I'm getting stronger with every appearance, and if I keep putting in the performances for Surrey, who knows what can happen? I know there's a long list of bowlers waiting in the wings - there's Sajid Mahmood, [Chris] Tremlett of Hampshire, Steve Kirby. They are all bowling very well, and nobody has a God-given right to get into the side. But I can only keep doing my best.
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Is it a worry that injury has limited you to ten Tests in six years?
As cricketers, you tend to get labelled and it's all part and parcel of the game. I've always maintained that my injuries are not your average stupid two-week setbacks, they've been long-term affairs - knee problems, half a rib out, shin problems, a stress fracture of the foot. There's nothing I can do about what's happened in the early part of my career, all I hope is that these incidents don't happen again as I grow into my body. I know my injury record is frustrating - it certainly frustrates me. When people see me in action, they think here's someone who can be part of England's plans for a long time, but then I go and get injured again. I've done well when I've been fit - I've not let anyone down when playing for England - and I can understand that people would be frustrated. All I can do is look for positives, and that's what I'm doing now.
As cricketers, you tend to get labelled and it's all part and parcel of the game. I've always maintained that my injuries are not your average stupid two-week setbacks, they've been long-term affairs - knee problems, half a rib out, shin problems, a stress fracture of the foot. There's nothing I can do about what's happened in the early part of my career, all I hope is that these incidents don't happen again as I grow into my body. I know my injury record is frustrating - it certainly frustrates me. When people see me in action, they think here's someone who can be part of England's plans for a long time, but then I go and get injured again. I've done well when I've been fit - I've not let anyone down when playing for England - and I can understand that people would be frustrated. All I can do is look for positives, and that's what I'm doing now.
There is, of course, an extra string to your bow - you're a seamer who can also bat at No. 8 ...
This season has been a nightmare injury-wise, but my batting is one positive that can be taken out of it. Alan Butcher's been doing a lot of work with me in the 2nd XI, and I've been getting some valuable time in the middle, batting for longer periods and getting to know my game better. I know it will all stand me in good stead when I get back to the first-class arena, where I'll be expected to bat for time in the four-day game.
This season has been a nightmare injury-wise, but my batting is one positive that can be taken out of it. Alan Butcher's been doing a lot of work with me in the 2nd XI, and I've been getting some valuable time in the middle, batting for longer periods and getting to know my game better. I know it will all stand me in good stead when I get back to the first-class arena, where I'll be expected to bat for time in the four-day game.
For many England fans, you'll always be remembered for scoring 99 not out against New Zealand. Any regrets about missing three figures?
That's something that is mentioned to me in all walks of life, and looking back on it now, I'm possibly more popular for not having got to the hundred! But to tell you the truth, I am gutted. At the time I was ecstatic - I'd won the game for England, and I'd done so on a wicket where both sides had struggled earlier in the match. The likes of Ian Salisbury remind me that it's still a Test-match fifty, which is something he also achieved. And it's true, it's not to be sniffed at, but all the same ...
That's something that is mentioned to me in all walks of life, and looking back on it now, I'm possibly more popular for not having got to the hundred! But to tell you the truth, I am gutted. At the time I was ecstatic - I'd won the game for England, and I'd done so on a wicket where both sides had struggled earlier in the match. The likes of Ian Salisbury remind me that it's still a Test-match fifty, which is something he also achieved. And it's true, it's not to be sniffed at, but all the same ...
You seem to have a knack of returning in time to face the Australians - you've been involved in three consecutive series against them ...
Yes, it's something of a baptism of fire, but I think that the fact that most of my Tests have been against Australia has actually helped me. I made my debut against them, I got my only five-wicket haul against them, and I've regularly picked up wickets in those matches. If you can do it against the best, you know you can do it against anyone, and I showed that on a flat wicket at Old Trafford in 2002, when I got the Man of the Match against Sri Lanka.
Yes, it's something of a baptism of fire, but I think that the fact that most of my Tests have been against Australia has actually helped me. I made my debut against them, I got my only five-wicket haul against them, and I've regularly picked up wickets in those matches. If you can do it against the best, you know you can do it against anyone, and I showed that on a flat wicket at Old Trafford in 2002, when I got the Man of the Match against Sri Lanka.
The last we saw of you was a horrific injury against Brett Lee at Perth. Does that still prey on your mind?
I've still got the scar above my eye as a souvenir, and I'm sure he'll notice it when he's over here next August. But it's just one of those things, and Alec Stewart, a good friend of mine, got me straight back on the horse after the accident. As soon as it cleared up, he was in the nets with me with tennisball practice and throwing a cricket ball at my head, to give me confidence of swaying out of the way.
I've still got the scar above my eye as a souvenir, and I'm sure he'll notice it when he's over here next August. But it's just one of those things, and Alec Stewart, a good friend of mine, got me straight back on the horse after the accident. As soon as it cleared up, he was in the nets with me with tennisball practice and throwing a cricket ball at my head, to give me confidence of swaying out of the way.
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Have you had any mixed feelings about the success of England's current pace quartet?
No, not at all - I'm really happy for the guys. I've always said, if England do well, that's bound to filter down to everyone else involved in the game. Youngsters always want to follow a successful side, and that interest can only benefit the game. I'm not the jealous type, I never have been, and I'm happy for all of them, because I've grown up with them. I've known Fred [Flintoff] since we were eight years old, and it's great to see him fulfil the potential we've always known he's had. These things take time. Quick fixes don't work for everyone, because not everyone's like Andrew Strauss and can bed into Test cricket immediately. Look at Jacques Kallis, Steve Waugh, Sir Garry Sobers, Mike Gatting - they all took a long time to make their first Test-match hundreds. Not everyone in this country has always been given that chance, but these days, if Duncan Fletcher believes someone's got the talent, he'll give them time to settle in, and England are reaping the rewards at the moment.
No, not at all - I'm really happy for the guys. I've always said, if England do well, that's bound to filter down to everyone else involved in the game. Youngsters always want to follow a successful side, and that interest can only benefit the game. I'm not the jealous type, I never have been, and I'm happy for all of them, because I've grown up with them. I've known Fred [Flintoff] since we were eight years old, and it's great to see him fulfil the potential we've always known he's had. These things take time. Quick fixes don't work for everyone, because not everyone's like Andrew Strauss and can bed into Test cricket immediately. Look at Jacques Kallis, Steve Waugh, Sir Garry Sobers, Mike Gatting - they all took a long time to make their first Test-match hundreds. Not everyone in this country has always been given that chance, but these days, if Duncan Fletcher believes someone's got the talent, he'll give them time to settle in, and England are reaping the rewards at the moment.
What was your relationship like with Nasser Hussain?
I don't know where all that started [laughs]. Maybe it was in South Africa one day, when someone saw a newspaper article saying that we didn't like each other, and Nasser just played along with it. But I don't have a problem with Nass. He was the leader England needed at that particular time. He was a disciplinarian, and he didn't mince his words, which some people didn't like. But he didn't care who he upset - he was very straightforward and just got on with it. Maybe it bugged him that I was injured so often, but I've had some very good conversations with Nasser, because I'm always one to ask people's opinions. But I don't know who started it all.
I don't know where all that started [laughs]. Maybe it was in South Africa one day, when someone saw a newspaper article saying that we didn't like each other, and Nasser just played along with it. But I don't have a problem with Nass. He was the leader England needed at that particular time. He was a disciplinarian, and he didn't mince his words, which some people didn't like. But he didn't care who he upset - he was very straightforward and just got on with it. Maybe it bugged him that I was injured so often, but I've had some very good conversations with Nasser, because I'm always one to ask people's opinions. But I don't know who started it all.
So how have you been passing the time during your rehabilitation?
I've been playing a lot of club cricket. My team, Spencer, were top of the league for a while, although I haven't played the last couple of games and we've slipped a touch, although hopefully we'll be back to winning ways soon. And then of course there's been lots of second-team cricket, where I've had a chance to work alongside some of the youngsters that Al Butcher is bringing through the ranks. There are some good guys in the pipeline, so the future's good on all fronts. Even though it's been a frustrating time, there are always positives to be taken from any situation, and that's what I intend to do.
I've been playing a lot of club cricket. My team, Spencer, were top of the league for a while, although I haven't played the last couple of games and we've slipped a touch, although hopefully we'll be back to winning ways soon. And then of course there's been lots of second-team cricket, where I've had a chance to work alongside some of the youngsters that Al Butcher is bringing through the ranks. There are some good guys in the pipeline, so the future's good on all fronts. Even though it's been a frustrating time, there are always positives to be taken from any situation, and that's what I intend to do.