Published: 26/02/2010 15:37:05 | Modified: 26/02/2010 15:39:49
Author: Richard Latham | All Contributors
Batty relishing Glos link-up with Russell
Gloucestershire’s winter signing Jonathan Batty says he already feels a rejuvenated cricketer after just a couple of months with his new club.
The former Surrey wicketkeeper has been relishing the training programme put in place by director of cricket John Bracewell.
“I feel reinvigorated,” said Batty. “When you have been at a club for a long time you can get set in your ways a bit, so to find yourself with three fresh coaches – four if you include Jack Russell who has done some work with me – is a massive learning curve.
“The basics of the game don’t change, but the ways that ideas are looked at is very different and it has really tested my brain and my cricketing knowledge.
“Although I’m 35-years-old, I think physically I am closer to 30 and I have plenty of cricket left in me. There are lots of boxes I still want to tick when it comes to achieving things in the game.
“I’m really looking forward to trying to express myself over the last five years of my career.”
Batty learned a lot about wicketkeeping and opening the batting from Alec Stewart during his early days at Surrey and now says he is looking forward to working with another former England keeper in Russell.
“Jack was one of the big reasons why I decided to join Gloucestershire,” he said. "He is someone I have admired for a long time from playing against him.
"Quite often I would pick his brains after finding a quiet five minutes with him during a match because he is the finest keeper I have ever played against.
“Keeping is a very bizarre discipline and not many people understand the mental or technical sides. So to work with someone like Jack, who I believe is one of the best there has ever been, is going to be massive for me.”