Read the exclusive interview with our Centenary Year import here:

TWO BLUE TRIBUNE:  Hi Sam and welcome in advance to Newtown and Chilwell Cricket Club, what have you heard about us so far?

Sam Arthurton:  Well I played in a Second XI game the other day with both Jaik Mickleburgh and Michael Comber and they had some pretty good things to say about Newtown and being out in Australia.  I think both have a lot of pretty happy memories of playing with the club and still keep in contact with a lot of players and friends they made here via Facebook.  Jaik has been doing well in the first XI and Mike made his first-class debut this year against Bangladesh, so they’re both moving along pretty well.  John Childs, the coach at Essex, has also spoken highly of the club and the way you look after our players.

TBT: What are you hoping to get out of your time with Newtown?

SA: Well, I hope to learn as much as I can. I know the club has a new coach and I am looking forward to working with him.  Essex will set me some goals as well and I am sure they will be in contact with Bryan Thomas on those.  Basically, I want to really enjoy my cricket and get to see as much of the country a I can.

TBT: Tell us a bit about your cricket so far. We know you’re a member of the Graham Gooch Cricket Academy at Essex?

SA: Well I am a top order batsman with my club Great Witchingham and I also bowl leg-spin. As well as playing for my club, I have represented Norfolk in the Minor Counties competition, as did Jaik, and played for the Essex Second XI. Last season, I made a century against Glamorgan in a Second XI game and that was a real thrill.  Obviously, I would like to improve my batting in Australian conditions and also my leg-spin.  They say Australia is a great place to bowl leg-spin. I hope that will be the case for me and I can improve my bowling while I am out there.

TBT: Your Dad also plays with Great Witchingham?

SA: Yeah he does and just recently we had the thrill of batting our team to victory together.  Dad has always been one of my biggest supporters and it is always a thrill to play with him.  I know Newtown and Chilwell has a lot of father/son combinations, so that’s something I will have in common when I get out there.

TBT: Who is the best player you have played with so far, and don’t worry, if you don’t say your Dad, or Jaik or Michael, we won’t tell them.

SA:  I would say Grant Flower. Grant is a true professional cricketer who always gives 100% on the field and is a nice guy off it. He plays spin with ease and manages to hit gaps just as easily. He is almost at the end his career but still works just as hard as he did when he was playing Test cricket for Zimbabwe and this is why he is someone you want on your team.

TBT: We see you played against Monty Panesar in a recent Second XI game, is he the best bowler you have played against so far in your career?

SA:  Yeah he is one of them. I also played against Simon Jones earlier in the season and he was also a tricky opponent just like Panesar. I am going to say both of them!

Sam Arthurton is an 18-year-old cricketer from Norfolk who is a member of the Essex Cricket Academy. He will be playing for Newtown and Chilwell Cricket Club in the 2010/2011 Centenary Season as part of our club’s on-going partnership with the Essex County Cricket Club.

This is the link to his career statistics so far.

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