Mark Stoneman Q&A: Ashes ups and downs, partnering Elgar and the county summer

Mark Stoneman is back at Surrey, preparing for the start of the County Championship season after a trying winter with England. On Monday, the opening batsman sat down with members of the press to discuss events of the past few months

Mark Stoneman is back at Surrey, preparing for the start of the County Championship season after a trying winter with England.

On Monday, the opening batsman sat down with members of the press to discuss events of the past few months.

Here's a full transcript of the conversation...

Does it feel like a while since you’ve been back here (at The Oval)?

“It’s a bit strange time-wise but you get back among the lads and it’s like I haven’t been away. It’s been nice to get back among the group and freshen things up.

How do you reflect on the winter as a whole?

“It’s been busy. There were a lot of ups and downs. The range of emotions you go through and the tours we went through were pretty tough and disappointing from a results point of view.

“In terms of my own performances, I feel like there was some good stuff in there, stuff to build on and a few opportunities missed as well.

Does this season feel different to the others… you’re coming back as the incumbent Test opener… or is it exactly the same as usual?

“I’m just coming back ready to start the season fresh for Surrey again, put some good performances and hopefully start the season as I did last year.

“It’s a massive season for us. We’ve had some good performances last year but we really want to be winning trophies.

“We’ve had some good additions to the squad and hopefully that takes us that step further.

What have you learnt from your experiences over the winter?

“Just to convert starts into big scores. It was something I struggled with in the early part of my county career; I would get some decent 30s or 40s and didn’t make the hundreds that I needed to.

“Obviously I’ve got into those habits in county cricket over the last few years but I need to transfer that over into Test cricket. Learning the processes and rhythms are the same but the intensity and scrutiny that you’re under is a hell of a lot more.

“It’s about keeping thinking in context. ‘Have I been in those situations in other games before, at a lower level? Yes. Right, what was the process I went through, what do I have to do to repeat?

“On reflection, I feel I’m good enough. Early-season runs are important to try to get selection again against Pakistan but in terms of that, what will be will be.

“It’s up to me to get those runs so I can hopefully retain my place when that selection comes out.

It seems like an age since the Ashes...

“It’s been a bit of a circus, to be honest. You find all the things that are going on and what is deemed to be important about cricket, and it’s a bit of a shame really because it’s detracted from what was some really good cricket.

“Without doubt we did some good things out there in Australia but when the key moments came Australia got it right every time and once they got the momentum they managed to steamroller us.

“Most games, at the end of day three we felt we were in a decent position and if we got it right we had a good chance but we never got things right on day four.

“Once results are going against you, the media side of things snowballs and it starts portraying a picture which I don’t think related to what was happening in the dressing room.

“That first session in Auckland killed us really. We did some good things in Christchurch but unfortunately couldn’t force a result home.

“It’s been a long winter but enjoyable at the same time.

With what happened in South Africa... the Australian ball-tampering episode, were you surprised?

“It was remarkable really. You never really think somebody’s going to take some sandpaper onto the field. Reverse swing is a massive part of the game if you can get it happening, and there are tactics of throwing the ball into the footholes and stuff, but that took it to the next level.

“The sanctions that were handed out were pretty harsh but you can see why it happened. Hopefully the game can move forward. It’s something that’s brought bad attention to the game when there was fantastic cricket being played. It was an incredible series.

“It was a shame but the game moves forward and it’s the responsibility of everyone who’s playing it to play it in the right way and take the game forward.

Deal Elgar is on his way to Surrey… what can you learn from him?

“He’s someone who always finds a way, regardless of the challenges he’s up against, and it will be good to pick his brains and work alongside him.

“I don’t know a great deal of him but it will be nice to spend a bit of time out in the middle with him. It’s just a fantastic thing about the game that you get to rub shoulders with people who are successful at different levels, and learn as much as you can.

Was there anything in the winter you felt you did better towards the end?

“You kind of go full circle. You get into the team and you want to trust what your game is but the intensity is up, you’re playing against the best in the world, you start trying to tweak a few little things and you come back to what you know while adding a few things in.

“I did some good work with Graham Thorpe out in New Zealand, which I felt got me in a better place and I was feeling quite comfortable.

“Runs are your currency as a batsman and that’s ultimately what you’re going to be judged on.

Do you regret the New Zealand tour being a two-match series?

“It would have been lovely if we’d had a third game. I think it would’ve been good for the fans and the game but that’s the way it is. You can’t fit that many games into 365 days.

How do Surrey replace Kumar Sangakkara and what is your role in that?

“I don’t think you replace him. You understand what he brought in terms of his runs and his value. If everybody lifts five per cent then we’ll be somewhere close but very rarely do you get a guy averaging 100, plus what he can add in the dressing room just around the group.

“Thankfully we’ve got some quality players coming in for the young lads to learn from.

Hampshire are up first… what’s your assessment?

“Strong side. Good seam attack and bat pretty deep. We had a good tussle with them here last season. We’ll just be looking to get off to a good start.

“Early season you’ve just got to get yourself into the game, get through that first half-hour or an hour and establish a foothold on the game.

How are you going to make success happen this year?

“We’ve got to the Lord’s final three years in a row and hopefully we’ll do that again, and get on the right side of the result.

“In Twenty20, it’s about keeping the level of consistency that breeds confidence. In the knockout stages it becomes instinctive.

“In the Championship we’ve got to score enough runs. The chances of taking 20 wickets comes from scores of 500. Last year we had good conditions where we were 300 for four and then 380 all out, constantly letting the initiative slip and letting the opposition back in the game.

“If we get that part of the game right, where we make 500, we can control when we declare, when we bowl and with our firepower we are going to be in control of the game."