Matchwinner Tredwell reflects on fine win at Northants

KENT“S James Tredwell (pictured)says he is in the form of his life going into today“s Twenty20 Cup Finals Day at Edgbaston. The spin-bowler has openly admitted that last year wasn“t the best for him but is much happier with things this season: “I enjoyed myself over the winter and worked hard. I went away and made a couple of technical, mental and tactical changes. I“m pretty happy now. I guess I“ve got a pretty simple technique, with my bowling, and needed to work on some things. I picked up some bad habits in New Zealand, when I went away with England Lions, but I ironed them out over the winter and am feeling much better this season. I came back, had a good start, and got two big hauls early in the season. That certainly helps you as a bowler.”

After the retirement of Min Patel, Tredwell is now very much the main spinner with Kent. So does he feel well settled now as the main man? “I guess it took me a while to force my way into the side because Min was such a quality performer. As most people know, who are involved with cricket, spinners tend to come into their own a bit later than other cricketers. I felt I should“ve been playing a bit more at an earlier age but I had a great bowler in front of me. Thankfully my time has now come and I“m really enjoying it.”

Tredwell took another ten wickets in the match to lead Kent to a comfortable victory over Northants. The win extended the lead at the top of the LV County Championship to 17 points: “Obviously Northants were sitting right behind us with a couple of games in hand. If they had come out on top then they would“ve been right on our tails so it was great to bounce back from the disappointment of last week“s defeat to Middlesex and we go into Finals Day on a real high.”

So the Kent Spitfires turn their attention to the Twenty20 Cup later today and Tredwell cannot wait for the action to begin at Edgbaston: It“s three on the trot now for us and everyone is excited. Obviously we“ve got a pretty tough game against Somerset in the semi-finals. They were in good form on the TV the other night, so they come into it in good touch, but we“ll be turning up and giving it our all.”