Matt Quinn left the Auckland Aces after impressing with the ball, to hit up England and play County cricket with Essex. More than enough reason to ask him a few questions...

Explain your decision to venture over to England and play County cricket with Essex...

I decided to make the move to the UK for a few reasons. Firstly I didn't see myself playing for NZ in the near future with a lot of young talented bowlers in and around the set up at the moment even though I had just played NZ A.

Having a British passport as well was always going to allow me to get the opportunity to play over here but it was just deciding on when to do it. I felt that at the end of last season it was the last chance I could leave without leaving a big disruption to NZ cricket and getting myself too deep within the NZ A set up.

And also, I have always aspired to play County cricket since I was young. So when I was offered the chance by Essex to sign - at which I felt was the right time - I took it.

What are some key differences between playing County cricket and Plunket Shield cricket in Aotearoa?

The main difference for me was the amount of cricket played. Six First-Class games, six 20/20's and two 50-over games are crammed into an even shorter season than NZ and there is even more if you make white-ball cricket play-offs.

So obviously as a bowler who plays all forms and was selected for every game when I was fit, I found it really hard to be fresh for the next game especially when you play a 4-day game, a 20/20 the next day, a day off and then back to back 50-over games, you run out of steam pretty quickly. I tried my best to recover quicker. I did a lot of recovery pool sessions, stretching, massage, treatment from the physio. But unfortunately finished the season early with a stress fracture in my back.

Which batsmen have you bowled at so far that you never thought you'd get to bowl at?

Bowling at Kumar Sangakkara was pretty cool as he was one I didn't expect to bowl at. Even having a little bowl at the likes of Alistair Cook and Ravi Bopara in the nets is still surreal sometimes. 

What's on your agenda over the England winter - will you knuckle down and train or do you get time away from cricket?

Winter for me is rehabbing my back in England, which I have been doing for 11 weeks so far along with getting my fitness and strength up, ready for next season. I will be back in NZ around Christmas and New Year time but back in the UK early January to hopefully start bowling rehab slowly.

Are there specific aspects of your bowling that you are working on now after experiencing County cricket?

Over the winter I want to work on a few new slower-ball options for white ball cricket. But a big focus is to get myself as prepared as possible for a full County season. I know I will be expected to play the majority of the season next year so fitness and staying on the park are my main focus'.

Is there an innings or just a shot you played with the bat that stands out for you from the season just gone?

No shot or boundary is really on my mind from last season. I just enjoyed doing the job as night-watchman a few times and keeping out Kagiso Rabada one evening against Kent. 

If you have a few days off in London or Chelmsford, what are you doing?

A day off for me at the moment is normally a good nap and maybe popping into London to go for a pint or two with some mates from NZ.

What advice would you offer to a young seam bowler?

Just make sure you enjoy it. I was only selected in rep teams when I turned 17 and before then I just played to enjoy the game. If you enjoy it, practice doesn't feel like practice and you naturally become better.

Which County team puts on the best lunches and what are some lunch highlights?

Best lunches and best away trip has to be Lord'. You get a menu, order your food and it was always class with entree, main and a desert! It's Lord's, with so much history and it's always a privilege to walk through the long room to either bat or go out to field.