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Behind the Stumps - Stephen Crossan

In this winter edition of Behind the Stumps we chat to Bay of Plenty representative and Te Puke premier captain Stephen Crossan, who is playing in England during the New Zealand winter.

Where are you based and what club are you playing for?
I’m based in Hyde, which is 15 minutes from Manchester and play for Flowery Field Cricket Club.
 
Tell us a little about the town/village where you are living?
Hyde has a population of 30,000. One of them is world championship boxer Ricky Hatton, who can be seen/heard at the local pub every Friday night. 
  
Is the first time that you have taken the big bird in the sky to play cricket on the other side of the world and how did the current opportunity come about?
First time for me in the UK playing cricket, after having a successful summer at home with the bat. I was lucky enough to link up with ex TPCC spinner Sean Gibson. I am also getting to use my limited knowledge of preparing wickets as my days are spent mowing and rolling.

What League are you playing in and how does the competition compare to Baywide premier cricket?
 I am playing in the Greater Manchester Cricket League in division 1a. We have 12 teams, which we play home and away and at the end of the summer the top two teams get promoted and the bottom two get relegated.  The standard is slightly lower than our premier competition at home. Most teams have a very good overseas Pro and a good overseas amateur and then fill the gaps with local players. However FFCC are made up of great local cricketers and have been stuck with me as their overseas amateur.
 
How does the club setup compare to the Te Puke CC? 
Flowery Field Cricket Club is very similar to TPCC, as they also have a great committee who put in countless hours of work behind the scenes, which allows the players to concentrate on their game.
 
How is your team going?
After 8 rounds we have won 5 and lost 3, which have FFCC sitting in 5th.  Believe it or not - no cricket has been lost due to rain! “Yet”
 
Tell us about your cricket highlights since arriving in England?
Personal highlight was scoring 113 during my first home game for the summer. After that match, FFCC thought they might have had a decent signing, unfortunately runs have been hard to come by since.
Other highlights 
• Watching Alex Lees play for Yorkshire at Headingly 
• Watching former TPCC bowler Paul Van Meekeren play for Somerset at Old Trafford
• Watching former TPCC bowler Oliver Smithson play for MCC Young Cricketers
• Tour of Lords

Who are the other Bay premier players that you know have also made the trip to the northern hemisphere and where are they based? 
Josh Earle – Kent
Dan Price – Lincolnshire 
James Boyd – Yorkshire
Sean Davey - Holland

Favorite part of your experience so far?
So far it has to be touring Lords.
 
Do you intend to do any travelling – if so to where?
I have a few midweek trips planned during the summer; first up I head to Amsterdam then Dublin, Portugal and Greece. Once the Cricket season is finished I head to Prague, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Morocco before heading home and giving dad a much deserved break from the farm.