By Jeremy Horne and David Slater
October 14 2002

After play on the first day of the Essex match and Chelmsford, the crowd woke up and went home. David and I also spoke to Ashley Noffke about Australian cricket and his first season as a Middlesex player. David Slater: You’ve played cricket in some of the top venues in Australia, how does it compare to playing at Lord’s?

Ashley Noffke: The grounds at home are very different, they are a lot bigger. Lord’s has got really homely feel , a lot of tradition. Just a great place to play cricket really.

DS: You were on The Ashes tour last year, how disappointed were you not to feature in any of the test matches?

AN: It’s a great tour to be part of as an Australian cricketer, it was great for Australia to get a good result. Obviously I would have liked to have been a part of it, but at the end of the day it was just great to be part of the squad that won The Ashes.

DS: How big an influence did Justin Langer have on you coming to Middlesex?

AN: None at all. I never really spoke to him about it.

Jeremy Horne: Do you think being on The Ashes tour last year prepared you for coming to Middlesex this season?

AN: Yeah, sure. It definitely gave me an idea of what county cricket’s about, but I wanted to get over here and play for Middlesex and get a better understanding and get a feel for the grounds and the facilities- the wickets.

JH: Do you hope to be back here next year?

AN: Hopefully, yeah. I’d like to play for Middlesex again, so if it all goes to plan, it’ll be good.

JH: Well we’d like you here aswell.