The England seamer runs the 21 Questions gauntlet…
Describe yourself in one word
Thoughtful – I’d say I’m a thinking cricketer, anyway.
Any words or phrases you overuse?
‘Go hard or go home’ – something we say at Notts: if you’re in trouble with the bat you go hard or go home.
What is your most marked characteristic?
My 6ft 6in frame.
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
I think you learn the most from your negative experiences, so I wouldn’t change them because they’ve made me who I am today. I’m happy to have learnt from everything.
What is your idea of happiness?
Playing for my country. I’m happy at the minute.
Who would you like to play you in a film of your life?
The obvious answer is Tom Felton, who’s Malfoy in Harry Potter, because that’s been my nickname for four years, but he’s a bit shorter than me, so they might have to give him stilts or something. That nickname has stuck…
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Rudeness. Whatever place you’re in, there’s not much space in the world for rudeness.
Which living person do you most admire and why?
Tiger Woods has been so unbelievable in his sport and gone through a lot of other stuff, and the way he still conducts himself has been quite impressive, and the fact that he’s still got such a following.
What would be your fancy dress costume of choice?
A giraffe. I’ll fit into that one.
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Not getting picked for the England under 19s tour to India in 2005, I was really hoping to get on that. But I can’t look back too negatively.
What’s your favourite joke?
‘Knock knock’
‘Who’s there?’
‘Boo’
‘Boo who?’
‘Don’t get upset about it, it’s only a knock knock joke’
Most important lesson life has taught you?
Put your mistakes to good use: learn from them and develop yourself from them. Everyone’s going to make them, it’s how you react that will make you a better cricketer or person.
What becomes of the broken hearted?
Knock yourself up, dust yourself down and crack on with life. The sun will shine for another day.
What’s wrong with the world?
Nottingham Forest not being in the Premier League – that’s what’s wrong with my world at the minute.
In which era would you most like to have lived?
I’d quite like to have played in the 80s because there were some interesting characters around and it looked like they had a really good time.
If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
A big strong powerful bird – an eagle or something – I’ve always been quite intrigued by the idea of being able to just fly around. I wouldn’t be a fish, I’m not that keen on water.
What is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?
Sienna Miller.
Who is your favourite fictional hero?
James Bond.
Most overrated virtue?
Tough question. I can honestly say that’s the first time I’ve ever heard those words put together. None of them are overrated because I don’t build them up too much.
What if God was one of us?
He’d have some decent averages, I imagine. A hundred with the bat, 10 with the ball.
What came first, the chicken or the egg?
The egg.
