Graeme: I was first introduced to the game by my father and older brother. What got me hooked was that at the same time a lot my mates also played. It was a good social and family activity.

Q2. What hobbies/sports do you get up to when not playing or training for cricket?

Graeme: I play a bit of golf, squash. I also follow the horses a little bit and enjoy having a punt.

Q3. Who are your favourite cricketers of all time, and which cricketer do you think influenced your own style the most?

Graeme: Locally I enjoyed Dion Nash for his attitude towards the game. Overseas I enjoy Lara, Ambrose and Warne. None of these really influenced my own style but you do watch how they go about doing what they do.

Q4. What advice would you give to youngsters to encourage them to take up cricket?

Graeme: I think it is getting harder and harder to encourage young guys firstly into cricket and then to stick with it in NZ. There are so many other things going on and the time factor is always an issue with many. I believe you can only do so much to get them involved in it and then it is up to them really if they carry on with it seriously. It is slowly becoming a career option for youngsters in NZ at a first class level. Its not there yet though.

Q5. What has been your own personal highlight from your career so far?

Graeme: Winning the State Shield [New Zealand Domestic One Day Competition] last year with ND and contributing with the record for number of wickets in a one day campaign.

Q6. Who are the best players you have played with and against?

Graeme: The best players that I've played with are Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori and Simon Doull. The best players I've played against are Marcus Trescothick, Graham Thorpe, Stephen Fleming and Herschelle Gibbs.

Q7. How important do you think training and participating in matches overseas is? What overseas teams have you played for and what have you learnt from the experience?

Graeme: It is important because it gives you a new perspective on the game. It also makes you more appreciative of what guys have done before in those conditions. I went to Sri Lanka last year with the NZ A team, and it was a valuable experience. It gave me a small insight into an international cricketer's experiences and what is involved with it all. It also made me more appreciative of guys performances in years before in the heat and humidity over there. For example, Stephen Fleming's double ton in around 2002/03.

Q8. How important is the relationship between keeper and bowler in the taking of wickets?

Graeme: We quite often talk to our keeper about whether the ball is swinging or seaming, and the lengths he thinks we should be bowling. His thoughts help us to evaluate the situation more quickly so we can work out and apply a game plan early doors to suit the situation.

Q9. What are your views on 20:20 cricket, and do you think there is sufficient cricket played at the state level in New Zealand?

Graeme: 20/20 is good for getting more people involved in cricket. Playing it is still competitive but we have more of a relaxed attitude to it than the other more traditional forms of the game. We probably dont play enough of it at state level here yet, but at the same time we do not want it taking over from any of our one day or four day cricket.

Q10. When you retire as a player what career path are you likely to take - coaching, administration, media or something outside of cricket?

Graeme: At this stage I will be teaching but who knows. Hopefully I have another 5 or 6 years in the game and a lot can happen in that time.

Q11. What is your opinion on overseas players playing in State cricket?

Graeme: I think overseas players are good for the game over here. Personally it adds another challenge to the games when you come up against a pro. We haven't had one [at Northern Districts] since I've been playing but I believe it would add something to our team and the association.

Q12. Who has been the greatest influence on your cricket career?

Graeme: Probably my father, and also my first Northern Districts coach - Chris Kuggelijn.

Q13.Are there any young players around that you are aware of that could be knocking on the door for Test selection in the future?

Graeme: BJ Watling from Northern Districts and Jesse Ryder from Wellington.

Q14. What is your nickname, and how did you get it?

Graeme: My nickname is G. My mates at school gave it to me and it has stuck.

Q15. If you were given the opportunity, what would you change in order to improve the standard of state cricket?

Graeme: I would take it back to 2 full rounds of four dayers. [Currently, States play each other once and the top two teams play in a Final] Also, I'd like to get consistently better wickets and practice facilities around the whole of NZ.

Q16. What do you think you need to do to get noticed by John Bracewell and the other national team selectors?

Graeme: I think I need to swing the ball when I bowl, and rack up hauls of wickets more consistently.

Q17. What aspirations do you have outside of cricket?

Graeme: I'm getting married in September. Also to finish my teaching degree and use that as another career option.

Q18. With the retirement of Chris Cairns, who is now the 'father figure' of the NZ side, that all you can all look to for inspiration and advice?

Graeme: I haven't played for the Black Caps so I cant really comment but I would imagine it would now be Scott Styris, knowing what a nice guy he is.

Q19. How much would playing for a New Zealand 'A' Team mean to you? Do you see the 'A' team as a stepping stone to full honours, or as a side-show detracting from State and full international cricket?

Graeme: Playing for the A team meant a lot to me as it was my first NZ team I had played for so there is a sense that you are representing your country. I see the A team as a stepping stone to higher honours, but also sitting alongside domestic cricket. I dont think it detracts from it at all.

Q20. How much influence did your father's career in cricket have on you? How did he influence you?

Graeme: To be honest not much at all. I am proud that my father also played First Class cricket, but growing up it wasn't something that he or I really talked about. His love for the game has obviously passed over to me but he has always let me find things out for myself rather than bogging me down with how they used to do it in his day.

Q21. You have studied at Waikato University in Teaching whilst also having a professional career as a cricketer, what difficulties has presented you in both your studies and your cricket, and how have you overcome those difficulties?

Graeme: It hasnt been too bad. There has only been a clash of about 2-3 weeks at the end of cricket / start of University each year. I have overcome this by having some helpful lecturers up at Waikato University and some good friends in my classes who help me catch up. I try to keep them as separate as possible and each gives me a break from the other.

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Following the end of the 2006/7 season, Graeme was selected for the World-A-Team New Zealand A Team for the second year running. As a result, we got back in touch with Graeme to ask him a few follow up questions to find out how well he thought be performed during the year.

Q. You played for the NZ A team in the Top End series this year, what did you learn from the experience and how enjoyable was your time there?

Graeme: It was a really hard fought series over there. There were some really good, top players on show and the wickets were excellent; perfect for cricket. The whole experience was very enjoyable though and it helped that the team was fairly successful.

Q. What are you doing and working on during the off-season?

Graeme: I am currently based in Kendal, in the United Kingdom, playing for Kendal Cricker Club in the Northern League. At the moment I am mainly working on my fitness in between playing cricket for the club.

Q. What were your goals for the season just gone, and did you meet those goals?

Graeme: The main goal for both myself and the Northern Districts team was to win the State Championship and we achieved that goal.

Q. How did you feel about Northern Districts winning the State Championship?

Graeme: I was very happy. Its also great considering that we are still a young team so hopefully its the start of a special, successful era for Northern Districts cricket.

Q. What were the key things that Northerns got right this year which helped you to win the Championship?

Graeme: It really helped that every member of the team had their turn at performing at some point. No one individual player really stood out head and shoulders above the rest of the team and it was great that everyone shared the workload and responsibilities. It really showed that our success was a team effort in this case, and that was a big part of helping us to win.

Q. Who do you find the most difficult batsman to bowl to in New Zealand cricket at the moment?

Graeme: In the longer form of the game and considering the great run of form he was in this year, Michael Papps has to be the most difficult player to bowl to in New Zealand Cricket. In the one day game I find Lou Vincent a tough proposition.

Q. How important do you think keeping the scoring rate down is as a bowler, as opposed to bowling wicket taking deliveries?

Graeme: Keep down the scoring rate is a very important skill and it becomes even more so as you progress to the higher levels. Also, there will always be a day in your cricketing career as a bowler that you find yourself bowling on a particularly flat wicket. It is important that you have the ability to put the ball in the right spot and restrict scoring opportunities when you find yourself on such a wicket.

Q. What is your favourite cricket ground to play at and why?

Graeme: Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand. Not only is it my home ground, but its also one of the few genuine cricket grounds in New Zealand.

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Once again, many thanks to Graeme for his answers, and also to his state, Northern Districts for setting up the interview. I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing him luck for his studies in the off season, and for another successful year with the ball next year!

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The picture shown of Graeme Aldridge is the property of Northern Districts Cricket and Graeme Aldridge.  The photograph is shown with the kind permission of ND and Graeme Aldridge. This photograph should not be reproduced without their explicit permission.