Debutant's delight

Shaun Udal, who went 10 years between international call-ups, reflects on England's great decade of change

You must have wondered whether you would ever get the chance to play Test cricket.
Very much so. Ten years have passed and I've never had more than moderate hope that I'd get back in the reckoning. There have been times in the last decade when I thought: "Yeah, I'm better than so-and-so", but then I've been overlooked again. I thought my best chance had been and gone on the last India tour in 2001-02, when it was between Martyn Ball and myself. Martyn got the nod and I was very disappointed. Since then I've learnt not to expect too much. But then out of the blue this comes up - to play my first Test was amazing. I learnt I was in at the team meeting the night before and I had to choke back the emotions. It was the culmination of 17 years in first-class cricket, which is a long time to wait for that type of opportunity. It did affect me.

How does the England set-up of 2005 compare with your Ashes experience in 1994-95?
It is so much more professional these days. Every member of the backroom staff has a specialist role and there's no excuse for underperforming. The fitness coach works us hard for the first two or three weeks, the physio is excellent, we've got a masseur to rub away aches and pains, there's a bowling coach, a batting coach and, of course, Duncan Fletcher, whose cricket brain is unbelievable. When I went on the Ashes tour, there was Keith Fletcher and Geoff Arnold the bowling coach, and that was it. Nothing else was done the way it is now, there have been massive changes.

How do you think certain under-performing players from the 1990s would have done in this system?
My best mate is Robin Smith and he would have flourished more than he did in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He would have loved this atmosphere. It's relaxed off the pitch but when it comes to the business end it's 100% full-on. Nobody scowls if you have a beer the night before a game - if you want a drink that's fine, you're responsible for your own actions. He would have loved it, as would Graeme Hick and others like Mark Ramprakash, who is still technically the best batsman in the country, and Chris Lewis - the so-called enigmatic cricketers.

Do you feel the old regime gave you a fair chance in international cricket?
Not really, no. I was left out after the West Indies one-day series in 1995, when there was only one such series per season. I went back to Hampshire knowing that I hadn't performed anywhere near my potential but then I started bowling well, taking wickets, getting five-fors and winning matches. The squad was announced for the Tests and they picked Mike Watkinson - he'd only been bowling offspin for a year or two. I've got nothing against Mike but after going on the Ashes tour and not getting a chance to prove myself in a Test, that affected me more than I thought it would.

Was it tough to come so close then slip back out of the reckoning?
It was. The following two seasons were my worst in county cricket and at the end of 1997 I thought I was struggling for a contract. I lost my focus. Other things became more important, I was enjoying myself too much off the field and cricket wasn't my No. 1 priority. I made that mistake and I admit it. But then, when John Stephenson left the club, I was asked to take over as vice-captain and it was a massive confidence boost. I figured the club still had faith in me, so I'd better repay it. I grew up, worked on my fitness in the winters and looked at things differently. I still enjoy a beer, I still enjoy going out to nice restaurants and staying out till all hours sometimes but my cricket has to come first. That appointment made me realise how lucky I was to play this great game for a living and that I was letting people down.

How much of an influence has Shane Warne had on your career?
He's been an enormous help. He's a great bloke and an astonishing captain - an influential person and an incredible cricketer. The hardest thing to bowl is legspin and to do it with the control and style that he manages is amazing. His enthusiasm for the game rubs off on us all and has turned Hampshire into a Championship challenging side. Two years ago we were struggling at the foot of the table. I can't speak highly enough of the bloke.

How difficult has it been to fit two spinners into the Hampshire side?
When Shane first joined in 2000, we'd turn up to away grounds and it'd be a damp green wicket because the opposition knew they'd lose on a turner. So as part of the selection committee I had to leave myself out, which was hard but obviously the right thing to do. He was sympathetic and kept apologising about taking my place but he's the best there's ever been so there was no need to be sorry. It was a problem for a while but we've got over it, I know now that I'm going to play probably two-thirds of the games in a season and that's enough.

Were you ever tempted to quit?
Never. Cricket has been my life, it's all I've ever wanted to do. I don't have any plans of packing it in. Another four or five years would be lovely.