Griffiths: "It's a fresh start"

New Leicestershire seamer Gavin Griffiths is ready for the next chapter in his career after signing a two-year contract with the Foxes.

The 22-year-old has made a good impression both at Lancashire and while on loan at Hampshire and was at the Fischer County Ground towards the end of last season.

That period allowed Griffiths to play some Second XI games and the intra-club friendly, as well as train with his new teammates, which proved invaluable as the bowler started his Leicestershire career in earnest this week.

“It’s been a fresh start for myself, moving away from home to prepare for the start of a new season,” said Griffiths.

“But a lot of the aspects of a dressing room are the same and the loan move to Hampshire has made it a lot easier in terms of moving away.

“It’s been a good few days to settle in this week, I’ve been able to get to know a few of the lads that I haven’t met before. Then it’s been a case of catching up with the people I met towards the back end of last season.

“Looking back, it was valuable for me to come in for a couple of weeks in September so that the lads could get to know how I go about my work and vice versa. All of this is a stepping stone towards pre-season and then looking at the important business of winning games for Leicestershire next season.

“I feel like I’ve settled in really well and I’m excited to work with the coaches, including Graeme Welch, who I’ve already done some bowling work with. He has some great ideas and it will be great to work with him.

“We’ve done quite a lot of profiling and fitness tests in the first week to set a baseline for where we are at the minute and to see which things we need to improve on. It’s been a good week all round.”

The addition of Griffiths means that Leicestershire have plenty of new options in the seam department with Will Fazakerley, Richard Jones and Dieter Klein all now permanent members of the squad.

Clint McKay, Charlie Shreck, Ben Raine and Neil Dexter played in the majority of Specsavers County Championship games in 2016 and Zak Chappell and Tom Wells also made some appearances, so there is no shortage of talent available to Head Coach Pierre de Bruyn.

“Competition is key in professional sport and it wouldn’t be the best environment if there were only 4 or 5 fit bowlers throughout the year,” said Griffiths. “In fact it wouldn’t be sustainable in county cricket.

“It’s great to have experienced players like Clint (McKay) and Shrecky (Charlie Shreck) around for us younger lads to tap into their vast knowledge, but we all have to try to challenge for all of the positions in the respective sides.

“I want to make this move as much a success as I can, hopefully I get a little bit more opportunity to showcase my skills. I’m at an age now where I should be playing first team cricket and that’s what I want to do moving forward.

“We’ve got a lot of options and that’s a big positive. We need that competition to bring the best out of people. I’ll be pushing as hard as I can to get into the first team and once I’m in, I’ll be pushing even harder to stay there.”

In the second part of the interview, Gavin looks back at his time at Lancashire CCC and hopes for the future at Leicestershire CCC. Thanks to Lancashire for the photograph of Gavin.

* Don’t miss a ball during the 2017 season! Leicestershire CCC’s Membership packages are now on sale through the club’s website HERE, or alternatively you can call 0116 283 2128.