'I'm a good team man, irritating to opponents'

Paul Nixon is a late entrant to the England cricket team but has already established himself as one of its characters. He proved his batting form an unbeaten 42 against New Zealand on Friday and will be key to England's hopes of a strong showing against Canada on Sunday

Your life has changed in the matter of a few months, and now you're playing in the World Cup. Did you really ever dream you'd be in the Caribbean playing in the World Cup?

I had dreamed of it countless times, now I'm getting the chance to live the dream. You keep hoping that one day the dream will become a reality, and luckily it has for me.

The Nixon plan for England to win the World Cup?

Keep working hard and doing the basics right. Keep a cool head and choose the right options at the right time.

You said this: "Sometimes they call me The Badger, because I'm mad for it". Could you explain why you said that and what you meant?

When I joined Kent, the lads there were very laidback in the dressing-room, whereas I was always on the go, wanted to be the first there and always the last to leave. That's why they thought I was mad for it.

You are popular for being a fitness freak - what's your exercise regime?

I have always enjoyed the fitness training and that has certainly helped me now to stay at the top of my game. I've worked a lot with the Leicester Tigers rugby players and I am always pushing myself to the limit.

You are always up for a challenge - is that ingrained or practised?

It's ingrained in me and comes from my days on the farm. I've always been prepared to roll my sleeves and work hard at whatever I do.

You always want to be the best, even when it is beating the youngsters during the practice drills or on the field of play. Why?

If you push yourself hard in practice, then it gives you the confidence and trust in your skills to go out and perform to the best of your ability.

The best sledge you have given?

I told Andrew Symonds when he came out to bat that, when I got him out, I would send the scorecard to him with "ct Nixon" on it, every day for the next 12 months to remind him. Sure enough, he nicked one to me off Jon Lewis, so it's going to cost me a fortune in stamps now.

The best line you have got in return?

There was a grand old lady in Australia who went on a Harley Davidson and also did a parachute jump to celebrate her 100th birthday. When I asked her if she was nervous, she replied: "No, I've had a better innings than the whole of the England cricket team".

Is it true that once your captain told you,"Look, forget all the exercises, just catch the bloody ball".

It wasn't my captain, it was a West Indian fast bowler who played for Leicestershire by the name of Winston Benjamin early in my career at Grace Road.

If we were to ask your friends to describe you in a sentence, what would they say?

Quiet, shy and an introvert. Well if you believe that, you will believe anything. I like to think that being vocal and giving people encouragement helps to lift everyone in a team environment.

You made your debut at 36 - what were your first feelings and thoughts as you wore the gloves?

That was the proudest moment of my life receiving the England cap from Michael Vaughan with all the lads circled round in the dressing room in Brisbane. Walking out with the England team was a great feeling.

You sledged Mike Hussey for not walking and at the same time admitted that you wouldn't walk yourself. Isn't that hypocrisy?

I said you must be f****** joking, but that was frustration at the fact that, had we got him out then, we would probably have gone on to win the match. Had I been in that situation, I would have done exactly the same thing. The umpires are there to make a decision on whether it was out or not. I just think he was wrong in this instance.

You are considered to be the most irritating and the most abrasive of players to be around. You agree?

To my opponents, maybe. But I think I am a good team-man and there has always been a great spirit in the dressing room wherever I've played. It's so important to have that.

If Paul Nixon were to ever head a rock band, what would it be called?

Probably Badger Bait.

Both Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff have hailed the energy you've brought to the team. Are they as generous in the dressing room?

They've both been great, especially Vaughany. He told me some time back that if I kept myself fit this winter, I might have a chance of being called up for the one-dayers.

What is the one cricketing feat you would like to accomplish before you hang up your gloves?

Take a first class wicket. I had a couple of catches missed off my bowling once when I was playing for Kent, one of them by Andrew Symonds ironically enough. But more importantly, I want to win the World Cup now, and after our success in Australia I genuinely believe that we can achieve that in the West Indies.

It's going to be an eventful year for you, with a benefit as well?

It's been pretty hectic since I got back from Australia and I am sure it's going to be like that all year. It's great though and I am sure I will be getting plenty of memorabilia signed for auctions while I am out in the West Indies. I'm going to treasure every moment, because it doesn't seem five minutes since I was playing for Cumbria's Under-13 side as a bowler.