Batty: 'England place is my ambition'

Date released: 26 November 2008

Surrey wicketkeeper batsman, Jon Batty, says he's still chasing a call-up to the England team despite being overlooked in favour of Tim Ambrose and Matt Prior.

• Listen to our exclusive interview in full (3.7 MB)

Jon Batty and Mark Ramprakash with exhibits from Sports Heritage Network's exhibition Batty was at Lord's for the launch of Sports Heritage Network's 'Our Sporting Life' campaign, aimed at inspiring people to connect to the UK's rich sporting heritage.

Speaking exclusively to Lords.org Batty spoke about the inspirations in his career and his driving ambition to get that England call:

"It's still my driving force, my main ambition. It's what's inspired me for the last 20 years, to try and improve all the time. It will be until the day I retire.

"Obviously I'm not looking to retire just yet, I think I've still got another four or five years in me and I think I could do a good job if I was picked.

"It's obviously up to me to get myself in a situation where the selectors can't say no.

"I've got to keep working hard, keep improving and hopefully help Surrey to some silverware in that time as well."

Heroes & inspiration

Batty also talked about his heroes both as a budding cricketer and a modern day professional:

Inspirations: Ashes winners David Gower and Ian Botham "David Gower was very special to me - I used to love watching him play.

"One of my first memories of going to a Test match was watching him play against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in the 1980s.

"My biggest inspiration has to be the 1981 [Ashes] Headingley Test.

"I remember it vividly - watching as a seven-year-old and being completely moved and inspired."

Asked about his modern day heroes Batty says he still looks up to his Surrey wicketkeeping predecesor, Alec Stewart but also mentioned a fellow pro:

"You look over the last few years at the achievements of Mark Ramprakash and the way he goes about his business; the way he works hard.

"You just look at the way he goes about things on the field - he's an inspiration to play alongside every day."

• Listen to our exclusive interview in full (3.7 MB) - including Jon's thoughts about: Lord's; Twenty20 cricket; and his own future.

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