Fuller To Play In New Zealand This Winter
16 October 2012
James Fuller is preparing to spend the winter in New Zealand playing for Takapuna Cricket Club.
The Gloucestershire pace bowler flies out on November 4 and will be a neighbour of team-mate Paul Muchall, who is also playing and coaching in Auckland until March.
For James it means a trip back to the area where he was brought up. He represented Takapuna as a junior and is looking forward to honing all aspects of his game in the coming months.
“I’ll be playing two-day cricket at the weekends, as well as some one-day games, and there is also a chance of some representative T20 matches for Otago over Christmas,” he said.
“That means I can work on all my skills. I want to develop into a genuine all-rounder so I shall be working hard on my batting as well as my bowling.
“I was pretty happy with the way my season went with Gloucestershire and by the end I felt I was showing my potential in four-day cricket.
“I am starting to learn what you need to do to be a successful first class cricketer. For fast bowlers it is all about managing your body to cope with the amount of cricket played in England.
“There were a few niggles and an elbow problem that kept me out for a couple of weeks, but other than that I felt fine, which was encouraging.
“There is nothing like the intensity with the domestic game in New Zealand. I expect to be involved in 30-odd days of cricket while I am over there.”
Gloucestershire Director of Cricket John Bracewell has urged all the club’s young players to set about trying to achieve greater consistency next summer.
James added: “I will be searching for that formula to enable me to produce my best over longer periods.
“Playing two-day games in New Zealand should give me the opportunity to build an innings as a batsman, which is something I am keen to do in Championship matches over here.
“I really enjoy batting and put a lot of work into it. I want to be seen as more than a hitter in the one-day game.
“There is a lot to look forward to at Gloucestershire next season. Our limited overs cricket has improved a lot and, although our final Championship placing was very disappointing this year, we showed at times that we are capable of beating anyone.”
