Player blog: Tom Hampton on pre-season matches, moving house and Italian hospitality
26 March 2015
New boy Tom Hampton gives his thoughts on his first few months with the club...
It was nice to be in the team for the first game against Glamorgan and to be able to get into competitive action after all the hard work this winter.
This time last year I was trialling with Somerset and Glamorgan and it is great to go into a season knowing where I will be playing. The last time I was in that position was when I was with the MCC Young Cricketer’s which was a few years ago.
Although I feel more relaxed, in some ways it is still the same but instead of trying to earn a contract I am looking to win a place in the team.
I came on first change against Glamorgan and I thought I bowled well in my first spell and created a couple of half chances. I came back on and picked up the last couple of wickets which was a nice way to finish.
It has been great to progress from training indoors to being outside in the marquee and now into matches. As a new player it has been really good to pick things up from people in the squad who have been there and done it all before. There is a really good atmosphere in the dressing room with a lot of guys who have grown up playing together. I have also benefitted a lot from working with Thorbs (Mark Thorburn, bowling coach and analyst).
Although I see myself as being more likely to play a role in red ball cricket this year I have enjoyed training for white ball cricket as well. When you are trialling around you tend to play more red ball cricket and you don’t have much of an opportunity with the white ball so it has been good to develop my skills.
I have recently moved to Bristol with my girlfriend and it is my first time permanently moving out of home. It is nice to get settled down here and get everything sorted out ahead of the season.
I was lucky enough to get away for a weekend to go and see Wales play Italy in Rome. The match was brilliant and the Italians definitely know how to host an international, the food was amazing and I might have eaten more than my fair share of pizza and ice cream.
It was nice to get straight back into training this week, finishing with a game against Worcester. The season is fast approaching and I just can't wait to get going.
Tom Hampton is sponsored by Mr Michael Abbott
