Phil Sampson interview

By Ben Horne
July 4 2003

Why did you leave South Africa for England?

It was purely based on furthering my career. I saw no career in playing cricket in South Africa. I was born in England and I have an English passport and I am English qualified. I thought my opportunities of playing professional cricket were greater over here.


What do you prefer? The county championship game or the one day arena?

Both forms of cricket are as good as each other. One-day cricket is intense, quick and everything is happening very quickly. Championship cricket is obviously over four days. There is a lot more thinking that goes into championship cricket. I enjoy both forms of the game.

Do players like Martin Bicknell inspire you and help your bowling skills?

Bicknell and Tudor are quality bowlers. They have been around and they have a lot of experience and they are fantastic in the dressing room. They are players you don’t stop learning from and their records speak for themselves. They are there to help us and help us progress. The more we learn from them the better it helps us to pro long our career.

When you play second eleven cricket do you find it hard to motivate yourself?

Whether I am plying second eleven, whether I am playing club cricket, whether I am playing first eleven cricket I go out there and do my best I can.

What activities do you do when you are not playing cricket or practicing?

Off-season I go back to Sough Africa so I am still playing cricket. To get away from cricket I like to play football socially. I play a lot of golf here and when I go back to South Africa. Basically just to chill out.

How close are you and Tim Murtagh considering you are in the same stage of you career?

Tim is a different sort of bowler to what I am. Tim is typical English swing bowler. Where as I come from South Africa and hit the wicket hard. We are different crickets. In terms of us personal we are good friends and we get on well.

When arriving from South Africa did the climate have any affect on you playing cricket?

It very cold here in April may. No not really.

Who is the dressing room joker?

Nadeem Shahid

Is it hard to play for Surrey because of the quality of the first team?

It is difficult wherever you play. You have to put in performances day in day out regardless wherever you play. Just because Surrey is a squad full of internationals and a very strong side. Yes it makes it hared at times because you want to be playing cricket. Hopefully when my chance comes along I take it and use it to the best of my potential.