Tredwell looking to maintain form

Kent spinner, James Tredwell is hoping he can maintain the level of form that has seen him be England’s stand out bowler in India.

In the first three One Day Internationals of the five match series, the 30-year-old has taken seven wickets at 17.28 and is also his side’s cheapest bowler with an economy rate of 4.48 an over coming in a series where Indian batsmen, notoriously good players of spin, have prospered.

Without doubt, Tredwell has been England’s stand out bowler on this tour, but he has said he’d like to see the side do well too:

“It wasn’t great losing the two warm up games, but we turned it around really well in the first game and showed what we can do as a group, but since then, with the bat it’s not been as we would have liked.

“In those last two games we haven’t got the runs at the top of the order that we would have liked, so we have had chats about that and we’ve been working really hard. Hopefully we can turn it around in this next game. For me, it’s been coming out nicely and it’s been nice to get three games on the bounce. When you do get the chance, you want to put in a good performance and hopefully I have done that.”

“I think over here, you have got to be mindful of the fact that they have got several good hitters of the ball and they play spin pretty well. You keep that in your head and don’t get too down when they hit you over the rope. I’m in a no lose situation as the Indian batsmen are expected to get runs off you. It’s coming out nicely at the moment. Obviously, it is nice to be out there, first and foremost. And getting a few games under my belt. Thankfully it has gone ok so far but if you rest on that, then you are not looking forward to better things ahead,” he pointed out.

England are expected to make changes to their side after going 2-1 down in the five match series with both Jade Dernbach and Craig Kieswetter expected to relinquish their places in the side.

In could come Jos Buttler with the Somerset man expected to don the keeper’s gloves with Tredwell admitting as a spinner he builds a bond with the man behind the stumps:

“I guess as a bowler you do like to have a relationship (with the keeper), that’s great, but unfortunately in the cut andthrust of sport you don’t often get to do it like that,” said Tredwell.

“Teams do chop and change. We’ll see what happens. Jos is a talented boy. I’ve not seen a lot of him keeping but I’ve seen him with the bat. I imagine if he’s got anywhere nearthe talent with the gloves that he does with the bat he’ll be fine.”

One man that won’t be up for selection this week is all-rounder Stuart Broad after he got stuck in London with all the snow and Tredwell feels he would have been a great addition to the side:

“There’s no doubt that he has got the class and he’s proved that time and time again. He’d have been a great addition, but we will have to wait now until New Zealand to see him.”

This ODI tour to India has seen England have a new coach in the form of Ashley Giles and Tredwell told KSN how he is pleased to have a spinner leading the side off the field:

“It’s slightly different having a spinner as a coach and you don’t see that much these days. He’s played international cricket reasonably recently so he’s got a good grasp on how it all works. He’s also come from a successful time at Warwickshire and he’s great to have around the group.”

From India, Tredwell will head off with the England squad to New Zealand for the One Day Internationals there, but he expects to miss out on selection for the Test tour with the squad due to be announced on Thursday:

“Swanny is a fine performer and Monty did really well in the Test tour. I guess they are the guys in possession in the Testarena,” he conceded on the eve of the fourth ODI in Mohali. Those two guys did fantastically well before Christmas and it’s tough to leave them out. If I keep knocking on the door, that’s all I can do. I’m pretty close, I would hope.”

“To play these few one-dayers has given me great confidence, having done so well, and that gives me great belief I can do itat all levels – whether that’s Twenty20 or Tests. I’ve been around the set-up a few years now, in and out, and I feel very much part of it. Hopefully I’ve shown what I can doin the last couple of games.”

Despite seemingly going to miss out on selection for the Test squad as England are expected to name both Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar, Tredwell believes he still remains in with a shout of playing more than just the one Test he has played so far:

“Who knows, there may be other opportunities around the corner, in all forms of the game,” said Tredwell.

"For players who play all formats now, the schedule is very hectic. Not only physically but mentally. If people new a break of need to spend time with their families or have injury concerns, (rotation) is a sensible thing todo.”

Being away from home, Tredwell has been in regular contact with everyone back in Kent, particularly coach Jimmy Adams:

“I keep in touch very regularly and with technology these days it’s easy. Jimmy keeps me up to date with what’s going on and we talk about pre-season planning.”

“There’s no hiding the fact the club aren’t rolling in cash at the moment so for us to be going on a pre-season tour is a no go. Having the outdoor “greenhouse” provides us with the opportunity of practice on grass going into the new season. If all goes to plan, we will be well prepared going into our first few fixtures.”

“I think bringing in an overseas signing is on the cards and we’ve certainly spoken about it. If you get the opportunity to bring in a high quality player, we as a cricket team would like that. It has to be at the price though and the issue of quality over cost comes into play as you don’t want to bring someone in who’s going to restrict the chances of a young player coming through.”

“We’d like to think we’ve got a decent experienced group at the moment, but we’d also like to be able to blood one of the younger guys into the side.”

James Tredwell was speaking to Steve Wolfe at Kent Sports News