This week James Tredwell announced he was to retire as a professional cricketer and he has spoken exclusively to KSN about the future and his career highlights.

I’ve known “Treddy” for around 15 years now, counting him not only as a contact within sport, but as a good friend.

Softly spoken, unassuming, a real team man, hard working, a grafter, one of life’s nice guys. Just some of the things people have said to me about Treddy in the past few days. Universally liked in the dressing room, around the ground, across the county circuit and round the world, it’s possibly almost impossible to find someone with a bad word to say about him.

Almost apologetic when taking a wicket, or chipping someone down the ground for a rare six, Treddy has used every last bit of talent god gave him and added pure determination to give him an almost twenty year career in the game.

Just days after Alastair Cook hung up the gloves for one last time, going out with the fanfare at The Oval, Treddy has been understated and would happily slope off into the sunset without the fuss.

The two are similar blokes really – happy away from the limelight, enjoying being back with nature, escaping the pressures of international sport.

I’ve been lucky over the years to be able to pick up the phone to Treddy and you know you will always get an honest answer and this week has been no different. If it’s off the record, that’s where it stays, but more often than not, he’s been prepared to answer the awkward questions.

So how will he be remembered? Decent, reliable off spinner, Kent captain, England player, family man, dad of two, gardener….

Injury has curtailed his chances of going out with a bang and he admits the past twelve months have been frustrating as years of turning his arm over have left his shoulder in pain, explaining he knew his time was up:

“I probably knew that once it went to an operation that it would be a long recovery and that I wouldn’t be fit until the middle of next summer and with it being the last year of my contract, I felt the time was right.”

“It’s a say day, but I look to the future now.” said Tredwell.

“Throughout my younger life, all I wanted to do was become a professional cricketer, so it’s been amazing to follow my dreams for as long as I have and I’ve been reasonably successful at times.”

“I’m proud to have bowed out achieving what I have.”

“I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and like Alastair Cook said, I don’t think I could have given much more.”

“It’s never an easy decision and I feel like I’ve been playing cricket forever! To take the plunge and say I’m not going to do it anymore is quite a big thing.”

“I think I knew when I needed an injection in the shoulder and went through rehab and anti-inflammatories that didn’t work. Once I had the operation I knew I may never get back to the heights I’d been at and that formed part of my decision – I didn’t want to stand in anyone’s way.”

“When you have got younger players in the squad pushing you for your place, you have to question whether you are standing in their way and if they can do a better job than you.”

“The fact I wasn’t playing was a factor. Don’t get me wrong, I would have loved to have come back and played for Kent again.”

That’s James all over – thinking of others before himself. With Imran Qayyum and Adam Riley on the staff, Kent have two bright prospects, and possibly two long term replacements, but they will have big boots to fill, both on and off the pitch.

When reflecting on a career in professional sport, it’s only right to look back at the highlights and for Treddy it’s no different with the 36 year old admitting he has lots to celebrate:

“Making my debut for various teams is a highlight, getting on the Kent staff and making my debut, getting capped and then obviously going on to play for England.”

“That’s probably the one that stands out and the day you receive your England cap is very special.”

“My Dad was probably the main reason I got into cricket and sport in general. His values rubbed off on me and made me the cricketer and person that I became.”

“Losing him was tough, but cricket has given me so much.”

So what now for the man that’s still got so much to offer: Tredwell said:

“I’ve vowed to stay part of the game, whether that’s umpiring or coaching.”

“I have had the time to do a bit of umpiring and stood in the league and some recreational games through the summer – which made given wides a bit hard with one arm!”

“I’m looking forward to giving that a go and see where that takes me along with a bit of coaching. Hopefully I can stay involved with the Kent set up as I’m already involved with the age groups and academy.”

“I spoke to Saggs (Martin Saggers) in the winter as I’ve always had in the back of my mind that umpiring has been an option. I asked him what umpiring was like and he confirmed that the lifestyle is similar to that of being a professional cricketer.”

“I’ve been lucky to live out my dreams and cricket has probably come first for us as a family, but they come first now.”

When professional sportspeople take that final step away from the game they love, they admit it is hard to adjust with Treddy admitting he will be no different:

“I will miss the dressing room and being around the lads, good or bad! You probably spend more time with your team-mates than you do your family, so not to have that will be a shock.”

“I loved the training and the competition, being able to pit my wits against the best in my era.”

As for career highlights, winning the Twenty 20 Cup with Kent in 2007 will be right up there, but there’s one ball that will live long in the memory for James:

“The 2011 World Cup, getting Chris Gayle out for my first ODI wicket has to be the real highlight – I’d played four or five ODI’s before that and not taken a wicket. It was a crunch match in Chennai and Gayle was about 40 odd not out after around 5 overs and I was thrown the ball. I think the fourth ball of the over I trapped him lbw, so that was special.”

“That made me realise I could mix it with those guys. I remember the odd match ball that spun from a few feet outside the off stump and nicked the off bail – they sit in the back of your mind.”

With cricket every changing and the ECB looking at yet another format, having trials for a new 100 ball concept, there is a period of uncertainty in the game, but Tredwell feels the base of the pyramid needs to be looked at too:

“I can understand why the ECB are doing it and looking to get a new audience, but Twenty 20 is so popular and I don’t see why we need to get away from that.”

“The recreational game has some real challenges and we need to look at how we keep people playing on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon – that to me is a bigger question.”

Although now retired from the professional game, Tredwell is keen to point out that’s not the end for him on a cricket field and he’d like to be considered for charity and club games going forward:

“I’d like to keep playing as you are a long time retired. I think my two boys will get involved and they have enjoyed the cricket they’ve played so far.”

“I would also like to give a bit back as Folkestone (Cricket Club) have been very good to me over the years.”

“Kent have been fabulous for me and I’d like to give something back to them and the boys there.”

We sign off in a way only Treddy can:

“I’m knocking up a chutney as we speak, using up the last of the courgettes and I’ve been hoovering up the apples to see what I do with them.”

That’s Treddy right there.