Wisden overview
Quick between the wickets and a stealthy accumulator at the top of the order, James is known as the Run Thief. He cheerfully admits that his favourite shot is the nibble to third man, although most of his runs come off the front foot and he likes to work the spinners to leg. James is a big-score specialist, and in 2000 compiled a Glamorgan record 309*, but he rarely destroys an attack. England selected him for two Tests in 1998, when he was unlucky to come up against the best new-ball pairing in the world (Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock) and the best offspinner (Muttiah Muralitharan). One of the more thoughtful county cricketers, James also has ambitions as a journalist. Lawrence Booth

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd