Payne looks forward to leading role after penning new 3-year-deal
21 October 2014
David Payne says he is looking forward to becoming leader of the Gloucestershire attack next season after signing a new three-year contract with the Club.
The 23-year-old Dorset-born paceman says the opportunity to step into the role vacated by the outgoing Will Gidman was a major reason behind the decision to commit his long-term future to the county.
He said: “There are many reasons that kept me here but the main one is that with the departures we’ve seen this year it will give me a big opportunity to step up into a senior bowlers’ role. It is something I asked for from the Club and am really looking forward to - leading a group of guys I see great potential in and get on with really well.”
And David believes the recently announced departures of the experienced Will Gidman and his brother Alex to Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire respectively will provide an opportunity for other young players in the squad to take on a more senior role in 2015.
He said: “There’s no doubt the Gidman brothers are a massive loss to us, no one’s hiding behind that. For the bowling group and me personally Will was a massive hero to me, an idol. He’s real professional that everyone got on with and a massive character in the changing room. Alex too with his experience - they will be sorely missed.
“But I think the opportunities will now come for players who have been here for a few years. A lot of us are coming out of the ages where you are seen as young and inexperienced and are at the age where guys should be stepping up into these roles, producing more consistent performances and delivering more on the pitch. That’s something I’m looking forward to doing.”
David - who made his First Class debut in 2011 – says that in his new role he will look to follow the example set by experienced campaigners like Jon Lewis and Steve Kirby who helped show him the ropes in professional cricket when he was coming through.
And he points to last month’s seven wicket win over Worcestershire – which Will Gidman missed through injury - as evidence that the bowling group have what it takes to be successful next season.
Looking ahead the former England Under 19 bowler says there are plenty of reasons for supporters to be optimistic – particularly following on from the team reaching the quarter finals of the inaugural Royal London One-Day Cup.
He said: “We showed we are contenders for that competition but I suppose it was the first taste of knock out cricket for us.
“You’ve got to turn up on day no matter what you’ve done in group stages and it’s all about then performing to your maximum. It was just a couple of slips ups that cost us but we certainly learned a lot as young group of players and I can only see that being a positive thing.”
David took 17 wickets at an average of 16.41 in the Royal London One-Day Cup but admits that in the main he has suffered a frustrating season through injury. He plans to spend the first-half of the winter training in Bristol before looking at the possibility of going abroad for a few months after Christmas.
To listen to the interview in full, including David’s views on his role as leader of the attack, his reflections on the season and his ideas on how to refresh the one-day batting line-up click on the player below.
