The mood in the Essex camp at the moment is great following our opening victory over Gloucestershire. We really backed up all the hard work and preparation that we had put in during pre-season by replicating it in the middle.

Our pre-season this year had a much different feel to previous years as we swapped the warm, sunny beaches of Barbados for the equally beautiful Chelmsford as we set about preparing for the season ahead. We were lucky enough to be able to be netting outside from the beginning of March after the ground staff erected a massive tent on the outfield for us to practise in. Credit has to go to them for the standard of wickets they produced for the time of year – it definitely put us in good stead moving forward.

We had three pre-season friendlies in the unusual sun and heat of mid-March against Surrey, Middlesex and Worcestershire, where the bowlers got some overs under their belts and the batters got some time in the middle. We performed well in all the matches and were in confident mood going into the traditional university match against Cambridge. With their averages at stake, a few of the batsmen saw the opportunity to cash in and Fozzie (James Foster), Smudger (Greg Smith) and Napes (Graham Napier) all scored hundreds, with Napes doing so in just 48 balls. The bowlers also performed well and it was no surprise Hoddy (David Masters) took six wickets in the first innings of the season.

As I was not involved in the university match it gave me the opportunity to finally move out of the student bubble I’ve been living in for the past 18 months in London and become a full-time Essex boy, as myself and Tom Craddock moved into a flat not far from the County ground. We got the essentials sorted out straight away, such as an Xbox, Playstation and a 50-inch TV, but at the time of writing we have been living here two weeks and Crads still doesnt have a bed, so is kipping on the couch!

After not being involved in the Cambridge UCCE match I was told to be ready for the opening match of the season at home to Gloucestershire as we were thinking about going in with four front line seamers, which I was obviously pleased with. We lost the toss and batted first and Billy G (Godleman) kicked off the season with a class century as we were bowled out for 364 on day one. We then bowled really well on day two, taking 15 Gloucester wickets and making them follow on, and I even picked up a cheeky three-fer myself. It took us just under an hour on the third day to wrap up victory with Napes claiming a five-fer, and I managed to get in on the action and snaffle the last wicket to end their innings.

With no Championship match for over a week we are back in training, with a few of the lads heading off to get some more match practice with the Second XI. As I write this Crads is probably standing in the field at Southend while I watch the IPL on the sofa!

Click here to read Jon Waring’s interview with Essex seamer David Masters

Who stands out for you as the best wicketkeeper in the world?

Well, he has been for a while, and that’s James Foster at Essex. He’s not playing international cricket but he is the best keeper in the world, and has been for three or four years. He’s just on a different level. He stands up to the fast bowlers and he’s so aggressive. If you look at some of the catches he’s taken over the last couple of years, off bouncers and full tosses, he’s without question on another level.

And on the international circuit?

Perhaps I’m a bit biased, but I always think we’ve got the best keepers here in England. Nobody stands out for me from the others countries in terms of keeping. There are some great batsman-keepers, no question about that, but in terms of actual keeping you name me a better keeper than Matt Prior.

Have you been impressed by how much Prior’s improved as a keeper?

He has come on a lot in the last two or three years. I remember playing against him and he was a bit mechanical. It didn’t come naturally to him but the more keeping he’s done, the more natural it’s become. It was the same for Alec Stewart. It’s difficult to explain but you can be over coached and look mechanical. Craig Kieswetter is at that stage at the minute. He’s getting lots of theories but as his career goes on he’ll loosen up a bit. He’s still learning his trade.

Why do you think England produce such good wicketkeepers?

England is the hardest place to keep wicket in the world, especially for the Aussies. Their techniques get exposed in English conditions because we haven’t got that nice bounce where the ball comes through nicely. Sometimes you’re catching the ball down by your ankles and you have to stand up close to the stumps. They have to adjust and it took Ian Healy three tours to do so. Adam Gilchrist’s keeping on his last tour here was very poor and Brad Haddin also had a difficult time. Our keepers get the best training so we should be the best, shouldn’t we?

You had very much your own style. Do you think players are a bit vain these days with modelling contracts and the like?

I don’t know about that, I didn’t really have the body for a modelling contract or the hair for hair gel. Look, if these lads are enjoying themselves and earning enough money not to have to do other work, then good luck to them. When I first started playing you had to get a job in the winter. You had to have a skill to get yourself a job in the winter because we only had a job in the summer to play county cricket. If you didn’t play for England in the winter you had to get a job and my trade was as a carpet fitter. Luckily these lads now have a bit more money and as long as they don’t lose focus on bowling, catching and hitting a cricket ball, then I don’t think it matters what they do.

Are you pleased to have your old coach John Bracewell back on board at Gloucestershire?

Considering how much things have changed and how young our squad is, having him come back has been crucial. Bracewell gives the place stability and he doesn’t take any messing. The disciplines are good but he’s also flexible enough to allow for individuality and he’s not regimented. We’re in good hands but it’s going to take time. Already we’ve shown glimpses of being a really good team but it’s understandable that there are going to be inconsistencies at the minute with so many youngsters. It’s going to be tough but in the long run I think we’ll end up with a really good team.

Twenty20 would have been right up your street, wouldn’t it?

I did play a couple of matches – in fact that’s probably what finished me off! But yeah, I’d have loved that. It would have been no different to the way that Gloucestershire were playing their one-day cricket; just in a slightly different format. The margin for error shrinks, the pressure of the game increases and the pace quickens. It would have been a natural progression for me and I would have loved it to bits.

Chance to Shine ambassador Jack Russell was speaking on ‘Brit Insurance National Cricket Day’. Chance to Shine supported by Brit Insurance has brought cricket to over 1 million state schoolchildren. To make a donation visit www.chancetoshine.org