Canterbury Cricket recently caught up with Lord’s Scholarship recipient Tim Johnston. Playing five days of cricket a week and another international test match under his belt he is having the time of his life and making the most of ‘an awesome life experience’.
Tim has probably spent more time on the cricket pitch this winter than off it with a One Day and a Three Day match each week for MCC as well as club cricket on a Saturday. Top that off with training on a Monday and gym work in any other gap he has a pretty full schedule. With that much cricket under his belt there was sure to be some outstanding performance Tim wanted to report back but being a team man through and through his most outstanding performance came from the whole team. ‘The result that stands out most in my mind was when we played against Durham 2nd XI. We only took six wickets in the three day match, they set us up 400 on the last day and we chased it five down with overs to spare, so the boys were wrapped with that result! I wouldn’t say I have had any stand out individual performances, I am just really happy with taking a steady amount of wickets during the season.’
With a hectic playing schedule Tim has not had a great amount of time to go further afield than London so he has been making the most of what the city has on offer but had to make sure we knew he was ‘taking in the sights in the lovely sunshine’ having had reports back of the bitter cold Christchurch has put on this winter.
He has also put in some more hours work at Lord’s during the recent test match between Pakistan and Australia. Being made use of as a net bowler during the test Tim was able to bowl to some of the world’s best batsmen which has been a really great experience for him and his cricket development. During the test he managed to catch up with a couple of familiar faces at Lord’s- Canterbury Wizard Brandon Hiini, who is based in Holland this winter, and Milo Summer Squad Coach Michael Peacock.
Quick Questions with Tim Johnston...
Who has been your hardest opposition so far?
Lancashire 2nd XI
What is the most Interesting place you have played at so far?
Arundle Castle
What has been your playing highlight so far?
Beating Durham on the final day
What is your most memorable cricketing moment?
Watching Shaun Tait bowl 100.1 MPH live at Lords
What do you miss the most back in New Zealand?
My girlfriend Tracy
What will you miss the most when you leave England?
The lads from the YC’s and Walky B!
What are your goals for the 2010/11 season?
I want to try and play first class cricket for the Wizards
Canterbury Cricket received an update from London this morning (thanks to Tim’s father Mike) with Tim’s latest bowling figures in the match he played overnight against the Derbyshire 2nd XI. Taking an impressive six wickets for 81 in just 31 overs the modest bowler spearheaded his team to victory. With nearly two months left in England we can expect a few more match winning performances from this impressive young player, even if we do need to contact his Dad to get them!
