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Graeme Welch

Graeme Welch and Ashley Giles

Lead Bowling Coach

What’s your first cricket-related memory? I suppose it was playing for the under 11 side at my local club

Who were your cricketing heroes when you were growing up? Ian Botham, Allan Donald and Brian Lara

What’s it like to follow Allan Donald, one of your childhood heroes, as Warwickshire’s bowling coach? They’re big shoes to fill, he’s one of the greats of the game, but I’ve got my own style and a fair bit of experience – I was at Essex for two years before I took up this position – so I think I’ve got plenty to bring to the table. I’m looking forward to it; there are a lot of young and exciting bowlers here at Edgbaston

What’s a typical working day for you involve? Before Christmas and New Year I was busy doing all the preparation and planning for the coming season; putting together training schedules and things like that. My first few sessions were spent easing the players back into bowling regularly and maybe tweaking the odd technical thing, but once the season kicks in you tend to concentrate more on tactics and how the team should go about bowling the opposition out

How do you spend your time away from cricket? I’ve got a 10-year-old son who is fanatical about football so I’m generally pretty busy taking him to games

You’re down to your last £10. How do you spend it? I’d spend it on a pint of Stella and (sadly) a packet of cigarettes. They have to be Benson and Hedges though. If I’m about to starve to death I might as well embrace my vices!

If you could meet one famous historical figure, who would it be? Winston Churchill

What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever seen on a cricket pitch? I’ve seen quite a lot, but there was one that involved Dougie Brown where someone was throwing the ball back to the keeper and he turned round and it hit him straight on the head. It’s always nice to see a bit of slapstick on the cricket pitch…

Who is the biggest joker in the Warwickshire squad or staff? I’d say Paul Best; he makes me laugh. He’s actually pretty intelligent but I just find myself laughing at him all the time!

Who is the most superstitious member of the squad or staff? I don’t know to be honest. Wicketkeepers are usually really superstitious aren’t they? So I’ll nominate either Tim Ambrose or Richard Johnson. I’m sure they’ve got some strange habits