'I've been making my way as a relative unknown'

In India last October, it looked as though your time had come, but nine months later, you still haven't quite made that position your own.
No, I haven't quite nailed it. It's been stop-start for me for the last 12 months or so. I got back in in New Zealand, which was nice, and did alright there, but this is an entirely new challenge. I've only played the one Test here in England, the English attack is on the up, and so, as a batsman, it's a tougher test.

All the focus seems to be higher up the batting order. Does this mean you could slip under the radar?
It'd be nice if that happened! But it doesn't faze me too much, to be honest, because most of my career that's been the case, particularly in this side where there's so many great players. I've certainly found that I've been making my way as a relative unknown in international terms, and sometimes that helps because the opposition don't put as much planning into players such as myself. That's probably because they think they can knock me over easily!

Even so, an average in the mid-forties would suggest that hasn't really been the case.
I've done reasonably well so far, but I know I've got a fair bit of improvement to do. Every day presents a different challenge, whether it's playing in India, or in England on a first-day wicket that's seaming around. As a batsman I try to be as adaptable as I can and find a game that I can suit to as many conditions as possible, so that whatever test awaits you in Test cricket, you can achieve your goals.

You're no different to most of the top-order though - Hayden, Langer and Martyn all spent lengthy periods on the sidelines.
Yeah, all of the top order has had periods in and out of the team, so don't think I'm any different in that respect. And I think it's helped, because when I did get my chance two years ago, I felt I was better equipped to handle the challenges. In my time out of the side, I played a year or so of county cricket after my debut, and I felt it made me a better player for the next phase of my career.

What is your gameplan these days?
I've always had a pretty simple gameplan. My aim has been primarily to occupy the crease and grind out a few runs, I've never tried to be too attacking. In the last year or so, I've tried to be a little more aggressive and get on top of the bowlers a bit more, but I still think I like to build an innings first and foremost. My time in county cricket has been useful as well. Hampshire helped me get my game back on track, because prior to that I'd not been at my best with New South Wales, making fifties and starts but not hitting the ball as straight as I'd have liked. Since then, I've been pretty consistent.

Do you think your lack of aggression has been holding you back, particularly in a team such as this?
I don't know. It's possible, but I still think I score at a reasonable rate - I just don't look as attractive as the rest of the blokes! But that doesn't bother me in the slightest, because I've always played the game to do the best for the team I've played in, and if that means there are times I look ugly then so be it. It's nice to entertain the crowd and I certainly try to do that if I get in, but that's not the main focus. First and foremost, I always try to get the team into a good situation.

Do you ever dwell on the 99 you made in Nagpur [in the third Test against India]?
Yeah, I think about it a lot - I must have played about ten different shots to that same ball! I think I've run down the wicket and hit it back over the bowler's head; I've got down and swept it a few times ... I've played a million shots except the one that actually got me out. But it's history, and thankfully I got to my hundred about two Tests later. I think sometimes these things spur you on to getting there the next time instead.

You've not had a lot of time in the middle lately. Is that a worry?
It's true - I've had very little time at the crease, but even so, in my two one-dayers, I felt pretty good. They were totally different scenarios - one innings came right at the end against Bangladesh, and the other I was opening against England at Lord's. I felt good at Lord's but played a stupid shot and got out. It was disappointing because that would have been the perfect chance to bat for a few hours and get a few runs. But saying that, whatever happened there counts for little when it gets to the Test matches, we've still got to start again in each innings. All I can do now is get to the nets, hit a few balls, and make sure I'm ready to go for Thursday.

Do you find the endless nets sessions frustrating?
That is probably the hardest part when you're not playing, because you have no match form to guide you. You can be hitting the ball sweetly in the nets but you'll have no idea what you'd be doing under pressure in the middle of a game. All you can do is be really intense in your preparation and treat the nets like a match. It's as simple as that.

At least you have your early season with Hampshire to fall back on.
I had a pretty good couple of months for Hampshire. I got about 450 runs in ten hits so I felt in pretty good nick. That was the main reason I went, because I'd figured that if the team was at full strength I wouldn't play much in the one-dayers, so I needed to get some cricket under my belt. Since India last year I've had three first-class hits at home and three in New Zealand. I went into that series feeling underdone, but thankfully that didn't hold me back much.

Your Ashes experience is rather different to the rest of your team-mates ...
One Test, one loss! Still, that Test [at Headingley, 2001] was different to most, because it was our declaration that set up a chance to win or lose. We lost, and it was a fantastic effort by England, but under proper circumstances with no rain, it's a fair chance we'd have won. I prefer to focus on last 12 months. We've beaten Sri Lanka, India and New Zealand away and had a successful home summer as well. There's no point in focussing on that one Test, because four years is a long time.