KP will be popping down to EMCC during the school hols!

1/ How are you finding captaincy this season so far? 

Generally speaking I am really enjoying the captaincy this year, without doubt more than last year which was my first in the job. Its great to be more settled and confident in the role but still learning more and more every game. All the work that I put in during the week has been made easier by great availability from the team, we have a young side and the commitment being shown is superb. 

2/ How are the team doing? 

A complete mixed bag so far. In my first interview from the 'Captain's Corner' I explained the format of the league that we compete in with the first and last four games being 50 over cricket with the remaining middle fixtures being the more traditional, timed cricket featuring 120 overs in a day and start times of 11.30. We got off to a flying start winning 3 out of the 4 limited overs games however we have struggled to adapt our games and we are yet to have a win in the longer format after 4 attempts!

3/ How if at all is captaincy affecting your personal on field performances? 

When I took over the role at the beginning of the 2010 season I vowed not to change my natural game. I have always been positive in my batting and always look to score runs and just because I have the captain tag I don't think this should change. This doesn't stop opposition sides commenting on my aggressive nature and my 'irresponsible' methods when I come to the crease!!!

4/ Is there a stand out game this season that made captaining the club so enjoyable? 

The highlight of our season without doubt came in the second match away from home against a strong Old Whitgiftians side. Despite a disappointing performance with the bat personally (0 off 1 ball!) the team managed to get up to a very solid 260 off our 50 overs with solid contributions coming throughout our side. After a solid start from the opposition we managed to claw the score back from 152-4 to 250 all out with new recruit Ross Paxton finishing the game off in the penultimate over with the oppo requiring only 10 more for victory!

5/ Have your season goals changed now we are part way through the season?  

I would love to say no, but unfortunately it must be admitted that they have. With such a young side, with an average age of 22 years old, its no cause for concern that we are not pushing for promotion into the ECB premier league just yet. We need to build confidence and most importantly experience especially in the batting department before we can push for promotion spot. Our goals this year must be to consolidate our position in division one and to attempt to string some wins together. If we take each game as it comes, who knows where we will be at the end of the season!

6/ How have you found the umpires in your league on the whole? 

On the whole I have found an improvement in the standard of umpiring this season. The umpires have a thankless task and just like us batsman and you bowlers they will always make mistakes (something that Ross Paxton should remember the next time he attempts to put some more holes in our changing room wall!)

7/ Who has proved to be the most annoying team mate and why? 

This would have to be Henry Jones who has actually not featured in any game this year but he still manages to be the 'most annoying' member of the team! Henry is incredibly talented having opened the bowling for Loughborough UCCE for 3 years including many matches against 1st class opposition. Nevertheless Jonesy is very injury prone to the extent that he has been called the 'myth' and a tampon (one week in, 3 weeks out!!) When Henry plays the whole team receives a mighty boost so we are looking forward to Henry joining the ranks shortly!

8/ Give us a rundown of activities during a normal home game, ie. wake up, breakfast, get to ground, do the ground jobs, warm up, toss up, play, bar, curry, nightclub etc!

I get very wound up on a Saturday morning, mainly a result of the never ending admin which the captain needs to do. I normally try to get to the ground as early as possible, sometimes as early as 0700/0730 to take the covers off. Normally I would leave them on a bit longer but my inability to win a toss in the longer format games has meant that we always get put in on a green seamer meaning time is of the essence! Once the ground is prepared (scoreboard, boundary rope, fielding restrictions, stumps etc) we can commence our warm up which is led by our Maori Colonel, Henry 'Raiko Tua' Glynn. He puts us through our paces and ensures that we are prepared to go.

The team has been known to hit the glorious establishment of Infernos in Clapham after a game however people are always reluctant to organise team nights out due to our consistent losses in the the past when such events have been planned. The team now knows to bring their finest shirt and dancing shoes to every game, for use in the event of a victory!!

Thanks to the LCA for their continued support of East Molesey Cricket Club. The LCA coaching course running later in the summer will feature the introduction of Surrey and England star Kevin Pieterson to our club and we look forward to the future generations learning from all that KP has to say.