Will Jefferson interview - Part Three

Date: Monday 22 February 2010

Part of the attraction of Will Jefferson signing for Leicestershire was the potential to help shape the Club’s future.

Jefferson, who holds the ECB level three coaching qualification, said in the earlier part of the interview that Leicestershire’s vision of producing young, English talent fits in with his own.

So, as well as wanting to impress with his own batting, he is also relishing the prospect of playing a senior role at the Club and helping the youngsters in the tough, professional environment that is county cricket.

Jefferson said: “We have some very good young players, who were thrown in at the deep end together last season. For example, Josh Cobb is still only 19 and what a talented player he is. He has been in Australia, which will be excellent for his development.

“But there are a lot of very young players who are out there on their own, and that is very difficult. They are coming up against some hard, seasoned pros who have been playing the game for fifteen years, or have international experience.

“It’s making these guys realise what you need to do to be a professional cricketer. What you need to do to score runs or take wickets, how to stay fit. It’s binding us as a team which I am certain will help make the difference between the last few years and the coming ones, in both my game and the fortunes of the team.

“Matthew Boyce has been extremely impressive from what I have seen in the gym, and also with his training and batting work.

“James Taylor has been away a lot so I haven’t seen as much of him, but he has been in for training when able to and I’ve also heard nothing but good things about him.

“It’s these guys who are committing to Leicestershire’s future and that’s something I very much want to be part of.

“I needed a fresh challenge. I got a little bogged down at Nottinghamshire for different reasons and this is a challenge that I am trying to grasp with both hands.

“If that is more of a senior role, then I have been in the game enough time now to know my own game well and also pass on knowledge to other guys. I see that as a big responsibility.”

Jefferson said the up-and-coming players at Leicestershire will certainly not be short of experienced role models this season.

And, as he will endeavour to help the batsmen, he knows from experience that there are a number of senior role models on the bowling front.

Jefferson knows AJ Harris well and also played alongside Nadeem Malik at Trent Bridge. He has also faced new Club Captain Matthew Hoggard in the past.

Jefferson’s working relationship with Harris is an interesting one and playing in the same side will complete a circle again.

He said: “I played with AJ and also with Nads when he came back on loan to the club (Malik had left Notts initially in 2004 before Jefferson joined the staff in 2007).

“I know AJ well, I played against him when I was at Essex, with him at Notts, against him last season when he came to Leicestershire, and will play with him again next season!

“We go back a long way and it’s nice to have old faces around. He is someone the younger lads should be tapping into because he has been there and done it.

“AJ won a Championship medal at Notts, he was on an England A tour, he’s played sixteen years of county cricket and for young lads who want to make their way in the game, he is there for them.

“He’s obviously a very funny guy – or thinks he is! - but deep down there will also be a burning desire to end his career on a high. These guys should realise what he has done with his career and tap into that.

“Notts’ success as a bowling unit was due to the bowlers being very close, talking very openly and forming a very tight unit, so if one person missed out with injury or got an international call-up, another would step in and know their role.

“AJ was part of that successful unit for many years and that's what we want to aim for here as well.

“I don’t think you could ask for two more experienced guys than AJ and Matthew Hoggard. Hoggy did well last year in the Championship for Yorkshire in Division One by taking 40-odd wickets and he also has nearly 250 test wickets.

“I have faced him in County Championship games and he is a very clever bowler. He is a thinking man’s bowler and he is still as strong as an ox. He has stayed strong for his entire career and it’s very good for us to have him here.”

As well as looking forward to putting in performances, working with his new colleagues and helping develop the club’s youngsters, Jefferson is also looking forward to playing at his new home.

He knows that Grace Road is a difficult place to come to for opponents from experience and hopes the team can make it a fortress in 2010. Particularly in the reshaped Twenty20 tournament, which he is thoroughly looking forward to.

“Grace Road is quite intimidating as Leicestershire have done well in the past in Twenty20. It’s a hell of a place to play when it’s a full house, the crowd really back up the home team.

“It goes back to those little things like at Notts, where I found it a bit difficult at times because even when we were winning, the crowd didn’t seem to be our extra twelfth man.

“There was never the buzz at Trent Bridge - even when there were 8,000 people in the crowd - that you get on test match and international days when I have been to watch. As a player, that is just another element of what you want to be part of the whole experience.

“Whereas here, or Chelmsford is different; Chelmsford is a horrible place to go and play a day-night game for example because the fans on the boundary let you know that it is the home team that they are backing!

“It is the same here, I have played in front of full houses against the team and you turn up for the day and think there’s not only the team but also the fans right behind them as well.

“I am looking forward to big crowds and playing in Twenty20. It was my best competition last year and my stats have shown that I am getting better and better year-on-year which is good.

“To me, and even all of the senior guys, it was very much a new game when it started but now there is a lot of money coming in and there is a lot to play for.

“I averaged around 30 in Twenty20 last year which I was very happy with and I believe I can average close to 40 this year.

“That has been the way I have looked at it; because I averaged 20 the year before, there is no reason why I can’t make the same improvement again and consistently win games and consistently put in performances that can turn the game in our favour.”

So, in all, Jefferson feels there is a lot to play for at Leicestershire this season.

His enthusiasm, passion, ambition and optimism is clear for all to see and County supporters will be looking forward to seeing him score plenty of runs at Grace Road in 2010.