'I want to be a great player'

It could well be because I've changed a heck of a lot as a person and a player. I've matured in both aspects and all I'm interested in now is playing good cricket and starting a family. It's a new start to my life in December when Jess and I get married, so these are the things in life that matter now rather than the party image I used to portray. I'm not too interested in any of that now.

I really don't know. I was just 24 when I started out and I had all those bright lights ahead of me. I guess it was just a part of the process of growing up. I was single and I was just enjoying myself as a 24-year old should. I probably look back on it now and think "argh" about some of that but hey, I was enjoying myself. I had a fantastic time but it never got in the way of my preparation or my work ethic and most importantly, I kept scoring stacks and stacks of runs. But I'm much happier with the place I'm at now. In fact, I couldn't be much happier at all.

I'd like to think so. It would be amazing. I can't wait to be a dad. There are so many exciting things to look forward to in life, other than cricket. But having said that, cricket is my job and nothing is going to distract me from my ambitions of being the best I possibly can be. There is a lot of cricket being played these days and time will tell how fatherhood changes my attitude. I know I don't like spending time away from my family. I don't like it at all, especially since I met Jessica. All these future tours that just get chucked in here and there, they don't make me happy.

It's flattering and humbling but I try not to make it into such a big situation. I've always said I want to be a great player - the best I can possibly be - and if that means I end up as one of the best players around then that's just how it is. A lot of people have criticised me for getting ahead of myself but it's just my ambition. That's the way I've been brought up, to challenge myself.

My first one-day series in South Africa was definitely the biggest challenge. That debut series was huge for me. There was a lot of emotion about me returning to play against South Africa, and everybody knows about the stick I copped, so to perform the way I did was massive. Last winter's Ashes is definitely second, again because of the stick you cop, as well as all the hype that went with it. I'd already played against Australia in 2005, so I had a feeling that the Aussies might have worked me out. In my first series against them, on the other hand, I was fresh, I was young, and people generally have a good start to their careers. The hardest part is backing that up.

I'm a very simple person at heart. You have to keep things simple and avoid making mountains out of molehills. Just watch the ball, play the ball, prepare as best you can and things should pan out for you. But maybe the naivety of youth helped me back then, particularly during that innings at The Oval. I don't know if I could play a similar innings now. In the last Ashes series I was a lot more patient - I've been under the watchful eye of the press for too long, haven't I? So I'd probably be more circumspect if I had to play that innings again. But it happened the way it happened. My life's panned out from that moment, so it was meant to be.

Technique-wise, Duncan was a very good batting coach, and he was in his element when coaching something new or something different. I got a lot of stick before the Ashes about not being able to play the short ball, so I decided to have a look at that - sometimes you have to take heed of the criticism and see if it's constructive. I thought there probably was scope for improvement, so I took Fletch into the back room at Sydney and he was just like a little kid as he explained stuff to me. He was so happy to talk and it helped me unbelievably. It was probably one of the reasons why I had such a successful Ashes. You guys [in the media] would never see that side of Duncan. For me I could see his face as he went about his work. He's a good man. A very good man.