Matchwinner Tredwell previews Warwickshire FPT tie

JAMES Tredwell goes into tomorrow“s Friends Provident Trophy tie against the Warwickshire Bears in high spirits after a match winning contribution against Glamorgan. The off-spinner played a key role in victory with personal best figures of eight for 66 against the Welsh county. He was naturally delighted to make such a contribution: ‘It“s the first time I“ve bowled a side out in the Championship, to win a game, so I was well chuffed with my performance. I guess it was close on a perfect day for me. I did well personally; we won the game and moved to the top of the table. It doesn“t really get much better, does it?“

So did Tredwell expect to play such a key role going into the final day? ‘No, not really. Having seen their spinner, Robert Croft, struggling to extract too much turn, I wondered if it would go as well as it did but we did brilliantly to bowl them out, having been behind on first innings. It was a great win for the boys.“

Second in the LV County Championship table, is promotion back to Division One Kent“s main goal? ‘Yes, I think that“s got to be our primary aim for this year. We are playing some good cricket. If we can continue like this throughout the season then we have a great chance of going straight back up.“

With a broad smile on his face throughout the interview, Tredwell looked a happy man. So what does he put this positive start to the new season down to? ‘I made a couple of little changes to my game over the off-season and I spoke to a few people at a camp in India I attended. Discussing things, and sharing ideas, seems to have helped my game. I also chatted to Min (Patel) and Keysy (Rob Key) to share their views and it seems to be paying off. I guess the introduction of Wayne Parnell, bowling left-arm over the wicket, has also helped.“

Looking ahead, Kent play Warwickshire tomorrow in a key Friends Provident Trophy tie and Tredwell is expecting another tough game: ‘They are a pretty solid unit. They“ve got two good spinners, some decent seam bowlers and plenty of good performers with the bat too. It“s going to be difficult and I fully expect them to be up near the top – challenging for the knock-out stages, along with ourselves.“

The Kent 12 for the game against Warwickshire at Canterbury is as follows: Rob Key (captain), Joe Denly, Martin van Jaarsveld, Geraint Jones (wicketkeeper), James Hockley, Justin Kemp, Wayne Parnell, Azhar Mahmood, James Tredwell, Simon Cook, Steffan Jones and Rob Ferley.

Gates open at 08.45am and the match itself starts at 10.45. With the Kent Spitfires in such fine form, a good crowd is expected at the St Lawrence Ground. Please come along and help add to what is sure to be a lively atmosphere!

Picture of James Tredwell courtesy of Terry Mahoney