Chris Read believes he is ready to step into Alec Stewart’s shoes as England’s first choice wicketkeeper.Read was in fine form during the recent Natwest Series and as a result, has put himself in the frame for a place in the England squad for the first Test against South Africa at Edgbaston, which is to be named this Friday.Read said: “I now believe I have got what it takes to play both forms of the game. I know my own gameplans so much better than I did four years ago.”Read, 24, has three Test caps, all against New Zealand in 1999, and he now feels that his experience at county level, plus 19 one-day international appearances, have sharpened his game.He said: “When I played for England first time around I was nowhere near the complete cricketer and still don’t think I am, if there is such a thing. But the fact is I am a far better player now, having learnt so much over those years just through the experience of playing first-class cricket and analysing my own game.”However, Read may have to bide his time for a second chance. Stewart, who has no plans of retiring, is England’s second-highest Test run-scorer behind Graham Gooch and is still first-choice behind the stumps.But Read holds no grudges: “Alec has been a terrific servant for England all told and I don’t dwell too much on how he has done in the past, I just try and do my job as it’s required for the team in any given situation.”Certainly, having done a lot of batting with Nottinghamshire and the Academy over the last 12 months I am very keen to make a statement with the bat and contribute runs.”
England have good reasons to smile and feel happy – their star batsman Mark Ramprakash has run into tremendous form on this tour. He made a crisp unbeaten half-century in Mumbai and on Thursday at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad, the stylish Surrey batsman continued the good work while holding the England innings together with a well-compiled century.Ramprakash made 105 runs off 182 balls, with the help of nine boundaries and two sixes against an attack that included Sarandeep Singh and Murali Kartik. Nasser Hussain must have been mighty pleased with Ramprakash’s efforts though the latter’s dismissal, which saw him bowled when he tried to slog Kartik out of the ground, was not exactly copybook stuff.A happy and visibly relieved Ramprakash spoke to the media after the day’s play, “In these conditions you need a lot of patience with the spinners bowling long spells. It was a very slow and low wicket. You have to be patient and score runs whenever possible, score off the bad balls.””I thought they (the spinners) bowled very well and it was indeed a hard day for all our batsmen. I think it was a very good team performance, but it was a struggle, to be on 149/5 at one stage. We had to work hard, the lower order came in and did a good job. Nasser Hussain and Mark Butcher had time at the crease, which are good positives for the side. 297/9 is a competitive score.”About the positive and robust approach he has shown on this tour, Ramprakash said, “We saw England in 1993, they struggled a lot. Hick and Lewis scored the only two hundreds on that tour and both of them hit down the ground. Obviously you have to strike a balance; there is always the risk in trying to hit the bowlers over the top, so it is a good learning process for us. We still have one match to go in Jaipur and we are quite happy with the way things are going.”On the high-risk shots that have been played so far, he said, “It is really difficult; if you stay at the crease and poke, people will say you got to use your feet. If you use your feet and try to take the attack to the bowlers and if it doesn’t come off, people will then criticise, so there is a risk in any shot you play, each batsman has to have their own game plan and try to stick to that. We just work on the game plan, this has been a great match practice against a good competitive opposition.”England batsmen got to play 53 overs of high class spin attack and Ramprakash was quick to observe the obvious benefits. “That’s what we need, we are going to be up against class spinners in Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. I think he (Sarandeep Singh) bowled very well, some balls turned very sharply.”Ramprakash showered praises on the two spinners, Sarandeep Singh and Kartik, “They both seem to be consistent bowlers. They don’t go to pieces if you hit one or two over the top, they just keep coming back at you, perhaps a little slower, a trifle higher. The duo impressed me today.”When asked about his success while playing abroad, the stylish batsman said, “I have enjoyed playing abroad, I had been to Sri Lanka at a very young age on an ‘A’ tour. I have enjoyed the tours to West Indies and I suppose, when the sun is out it is very nice to play cricket.”Ramprakash admitted that all the media attention back home along with the pressure of expectation has had its negative effect in the past. He was quick to add, “I am pretty much happy with the way I have approached cricket during this summer.”Visiting India has already left a positive impression on Ramprakash. It was quite a pleasing experience for him to visit the Birla Temple on Wednesday. Ramprakash’s focus, meanwhile, is clearly on cricket for he will have to deliver a lot of runs in the Test series. That did not prevent the soft-spoken cricketer though from adding, “You come to India not only to play cricket but to experience a bit of life also.”
After two months of excruciatingly painful withdrawal symptoms, Football Fancast’s relentless addiction to the English top flight has finally been satisfied by the grand opening of the 2015/16 Premier League season.
Today’s fixture list was full of fantastic match-ups as per usual – not least including Tottenham’s visit to Manchester United – but tomorrow’s affairs offer equal excitement, starting with Arsenal’s 1.30pm kick-off against West Ham.
The Gunners have certainly enjoyed the better rub of the green during recent encounters against the East Londoners. In fact, they’ve won all of their last six clashes with the Hammers, producing an aggregate scoreline of 19-4.
But could things be a little different this time around, with Slaven Bilic now in the Upton Park hotseat and West Ham spending around £25million on new signings this summer?
Perhaps a look at the FIVE key individual battles can shed some light on the issue; and give some insight into who’ll finish victorious at the Emirates.
OLIVIER GIROUD VS JAMES TOMKINS AND ANGELO OGBONNA
Slaven Bilic may be looking to take West Ham in a more progressive direction following their attritional days under Sam Allardyce but the East London outfit are still an overtly physical side, with power, strength and aggression in every department.
The Gunners, on the other hand, are amongst the least physical sides in the Premier League, so rare exception Olivier Giroud will have to assert his 6 foot 4 relentlessly if the Emirates outfit are to get their title bid off to a flyer.
The Frenchman isn’t exactly known for snide elbows and robust aerial challenges in typical English centre-forward style but his ability to hold up the ball has always been an integral component of Arsenal’s build-up play and they’ll need more of that service on Sunday.
He’ll likely be up against James Tomkins, who averaged the second-most successful aerial duels per match (4.6) of any Premier League centre-half last season and summer signing Angelo Ogbonna, who will be desperate to demonstrate the quality and experience gained from claiming back-to-back Serie A titles and regularly participating in the Champions League during his spell with Juventus.
Resultantly, Giroud can’t expect to win every ball, although his 3.7 successful aerial duels per-match from last term is certainly impressive. But he needs to occupy Tomkins and Ogbonna as much as possible, persistently challenging their power and dominance in the air, to create space for Arsenal’s potent midfield.
DIMITRI PAYET VS FRANCIS COQUELIN
It remains to be seen how Slaven Bilic plans to utilise £12million signing Dimitri Payet, having proved himself equally adept as a winger and as a No.10 during his decade in Ligue 1.
Indeed, the France international has been predominantly considered a wide man during that time period but racked up a rather incredible 17 assists in a more central role at Marseille last season, which paved the way for his Upton Park move.
But either way, as the most creative force in the Hammers squad, Francis Coquelin’s primary task on Sunday should be to keep Payet out of the game as much as possible – especially on the counter-attack.
Defending on the break has been one of the Gunners’ biggest failings in recent years but the Frenchman appeared to put an end to that last season as he forged a regular role for himself at the base of Arsenal’s midfield.
Whether the 24 year-old’s impressive form was simply a zeitgeist remains to be seen. But Arsene Wenger has placed plenty of faith in the speedy enforcer – rewarding Coquelin with a new contract in February and perhaps most importantly, not signing the big ‘n’ burly holding midfielder that much of the Arsenal fan base continue to crave – and he’ll be keen to repay it with a strong performance on the opening day of Arsenal’s campaign.
MESUT OZIL VS HIS POSITION
There’s no question that Mesut Ozil’s best performances for Arsenal – and indeed, throughout his career – have come in his preferred role of No.10; the position he finally began to look like a £42.2million player in last season after spending the first 18 months of his Emirates tenure dwindling aimlessly on the wing.
But with Alexis Sanchez out injured and the trio of Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey proving to be Arsenal’s most resilient midfield, it’s likely the German World Cup winner will start against West Ham on the left channel in consistency with his selection for the Community Shield last weekend.
Ozil’s never been much of a touchline hugger so the real challenge for him against the Hammers is finding a way of still contributing positively from that left hand-side. He’s certainly got the talent to do so but still hasn’t truly proved it since joining the north Londoners two summers ago.
Injury free, fully rested and now well acquainted with Premier League football, there’s no more excuses for the 26 year-old – this is the season where he needs to start producing the goods on a consistent basis.
DIAFRA SAKHO VS PER MERTESACKER AND LAURENT KOSCIELNY
Diafra Sakho was West Ham’s top scorer in the Premier League last season, netting ten times in 23 appearances, so with strike partners Enner Valencia and Andy Carroll both stuck in the physio room for the foreseeable future, goalscoring responsibilities will be firmly on his shoulders this Sunday.
Whether the Senegal international can sustain that one-in-two strike-rate long term remains to be seen; last season was his first ever in a top flight, having previously represented Metz and scored all of his goals for them in the French second and third tiers, and there was something suspiciously one-season-wonder-esque about his flurry of goals during the 2014/15 campaign.
That being said, Sakho offers plenty of traits that could make him a real handful for Arsenal’s tried and trusted centre-back duo Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker. The former will have to concentrate on the 25 year-old’s penetrative pace, whilst the 6 foot 6 latter must ensure he doesn’t let the striker with the most headed goals in the Premier League last season out of his sight.
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Despite Arsenal’s impressive end to last season, Mertesacker hasn’t quite been at the races since Germany’s World Cup triumphs in Brazil. In my opinion, he’s a weak link the Hammers could exploit.
ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN VS AARON CRESWELL
With Alexis Sanchez a serious doubt and Danny Welbeck a confirmed absentee, the Gunners will be depending upon stocky and explosive winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to stretch the West Ham backline with some lung-bursting runs on Sunday.
The 21 year-old perhaps goes a little underrated outside of the Emirates; last season he averaged 3.6 successful dribbles per match, which was only bettered throughout the Premier League by Chelsea’s Eden Hazard.
Limited output is probably the England international’s lingering criticism but if his superb strike against Chelsea last weekend, securing the Gunners a second consecutive Community Shield, is anything to go by, he’ll show vast improvements in that department throughout the coming season.
That also suggests he’ll enter the West Ham clash high in confidence and strong in form, so Aaron Cresswell could have a job on to keep Oxlade-Chamberlain in check, especially with right-back Hector Bellerin proving so potent on the overlap since becoming a Gunners regular last season.
That being said, Cresswell is a force in his own right, last season picking up the second-most assists of any player in the Hammers’ squad (4) after the now-departed Stewart Downing.
With Bellerin bombing forward, Oxlade-Chamberlain will need to ensure the Spaniard is covered at all times; the Hammers’ No.3 offers lethal delivery from his left peg and has the potential to produce a match-winning cross if he’s given the time and space to do so.
Journalist Jacque Talbot has revealed that Wolves are now the ‘most likely’ to sign Joao Palhinha once the summer transfer window opens, with an ‘agreement’ in place for Jorge Mendes to ship the player from Lisbon.
The Lowdown: Scouts sent
It was reported last week by Jornal de Noticias (via Sport Witness), that the Midlands club had personally sent some of their scouts to watch Palhinha play recently, after his agents had a few approaches for him in January.
Described as a ‘sensational player‘ and an ‘artist‘ by sports journalist Josh Bunting after watching him for Sporting CP in the Portuguese top flight, he is someone that is certain to attract a lot of interest once this season ends – one journalist suggested this week that Manchester United could pip Wolves.
The Latest: Wolves ‘most likely’
According to Talbot, the Molineux faithful are now the ‘most likely’ to sign Palhinha this summer, although agent Mendes does have a ‘good relationship’ with Tottenham Hotspur managing director Fabio Paratici.
However, Talbot also revealed that a number of other clubs in the Premier League are also ‘in the running’ for his signature:
“Exc: Sporting Lisbon’s Joao Palhinha – heard similar, will be offered to Man United, Spurs, Newcastle, but other Premier League clubs in the running/more likely. Agreement in place with Jorge Mendes to forge a move.
Wolves the most likely, I’m told, but of course, Mendes does have a good relationship with Tottenham’s MD Fabio Paratici.”
The Verdict: Get it done
With the amount of competition that Bruno Lage’s team are likely to face in the summer, they just need to get this deal done.
Of course, Lage himself knows the player well from his time managing in the Portuguese league with Benfica, while Palhinha was playing for Braga, so if Wolves are pursuing this then the manager must be a big fan.
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Now at Sporting, he was a title last season, and with Joao Moutinho now 35 years of age, his countryman could be the ideal successor in the heart of the midfield.
In other news, find out who has now been backed to leave WWFC this summer by a transfer expert here!
Abdul Razzaq has taken back his decision to retire from international cricket and is available once again to represent Pakistan. The allrounder’s decision comes after discussions with his local club and long-time coach.”I have reversed my decision and am available for Pakistan once again,” Razzaq told Cricinfo. “I have had many discussions with P&T Gymkhana and my coach, Azhar Zaidi, and we felt it was better if I took back my original decision. Maybe I made that in the heat of the moment.”Razzaq announced his retirement from international cricket in August, in protest at being ignored by the selectors in the squad for the ICC World Twenty20. He accused the selection committee and the board of not treating him with enough respect and dropping him for matters other than his form. The selectors maintained that he was still in their plans for ODI and Test cricket, though his form in those formats has been unconvincing over the last year or so. In his last 15 ODIs, he averages 17.30 and has taken only 12 wickets.Three fifties and 38 wickets in his last 15 Tests have also done nothing to help his cause, though injuries have hardly helped the process. He missed the Test series against South Africa late last year and the World Cup in the West Indies subsequently. In 2005, he also missed the home series against England with an elbow injury.Razzaq now plans to take part in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam trophy for Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL). The doors back to international cricket will not open immediately, however. Salahuddin Ahmed, chief selector, said Razzaq would need to show that he was back to his bristling best. “Let him play first-class matches first and prove his form and fitness there. After that, the doors are always open for every first-class cricketer in the country,” Salahuddin told Cricinfo.And further obstacles may exist in the form of the Indian Cricket League (ICL). Razzaq was one of four Pakistani players to sign up for the league and the Pakistan board still maintains that anyone who does turn out in the ICL will not represent Pakistan.Mohammad Yousuf, another player to sign for the ICL, was convinced by the board to opt for Pakistan instead, though no similar efforts were made with Razzaq. The league has threatened legal action against Yousuf. Razzaq says, however, he will wait and see how matters develop before deciding on a course of action as far as his contract with the ICL is concerned.
Batsmen Yasir Hameed and Asim Kamal are in contention for Pakistan’s Test squad for the West Indies series, following a litany of batting failures on tours to Sri Lanka, England and the Champions Trophy.Pakistan’s trouble with openers is well-chronicled; over 15 combinations have been tried in their last 20 Tests alone including players such as Salman Butt, Imran Farhat and Taufeeq Umar. None has brought particular success. Hameed played the last of his 17 Tests in June 2005 against West Indies and according to Wasim Bari, chairman of selectors, is under consideration once again.Bari told Cricinfo, “There are four openers on the national circuit: Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez and Yasir Hameed. Hameed has been out of the side for some time but he will definitely be under consideration for the series because no pair, or player, has really established himself in that position yet.”He can definitely make a comeback. Hafeez has done exactly the same. He was out of the Test side for nearly three years before he returned, after performing well domestically and on A tours. He played well on his return at The Oval as well and any player who shows form can come back.”No such luck for another forgotten opener Imran Nazir, however. Following a blistering century for Sialkot against Uttar Pradesh in the Mohammad Nissar Trophy, his name briefly resurfaced as a contender to add to the eight Tests he has played for Pakistan. But Bari was of the opinion that Tests were not Nazir’s arena. “He is a different type of player. He is mainly an ODI player and maybe not suited for Tests. But if he performs consistently domestically, he has a chance.”The problem appears to be one of limited choice, as Bari concedes. Rafatullah Mohmand, who enjoyed a prolific run in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy last season with Peshawar, was also floating around the national squad earlier in the season. He wasn’t picked eventually and though he made scores of 39 and 40 against Australia A in the Top End series in July, Bari only termed his performances as “average.””There are other openers around on the domestic circuit but mostly they are too young right now and not experienced enough,” said Bari. “Karachi’s Khurram Manzoor has potential but again not mature enough as a player just yet.”Lower down, below the formidable middle three, Pakistan has also struggled with the dip in form of both Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal. In searching for solidity, calls for Kamal over the last couple of months have not been rare. Eight half-centuries in 12 Tests is not a poor record and they’ve been made in Australia, West Indies, India and Pakistan, as Bari acknowledges. “Kamal is always in contention for the number six spot in Test matches. He has a good record in Tests and provides solidity to the lower order.”But the re-emergence of Faisal Iqbal has complicated matters. “Faisal I think has edged him out slightly over the last year in that spot. He has a hundred against India, a good fifty against Sri Lanka and a couple of decent scores against England as well. You have to be fair to players who are performing, which he has done.”Pakistan will hold a three-day pre-series training camp from November 3 and the squad is expected to be announced soon after.
Scorecard Ravneet Ricky and Shikhar Dhawan cracked hundreds and steered North Zone to an imposing position on the second day of their Duleep Trophy clash against Zimbabwe President’s XI at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Having shot them out for 94 on the first day, North rode on a mammoth 220-run opening stand between Ricky and Dhawan. Their promising partnership in the previous game, against East Zone, had been cut short by some doubtful umpiring decisions but the duo enjoyed a flurry of boundaries and left the Zimbabweans with hardly any chance. Graeme Cremer, the legspinner, ended with a career-best 7 for 114 but North were well on their way to a resounding victory by then. The Zimbabeans lost the wicket of Neil Ferreira before the end of the day, and will need a minor miracle to get something out of this game. ScorecardHalf-centuries from Piyush Chawla and Harvinder Singh helped Central Zone reach an imposing 478 on the second day against South at Surat. Resuming on 299 for 3, Central consolidated their position through their lower middle order with Chawla, the legspinning allrounder from Uttar Pradesh, anchoring the ship. Harvinder, the Railways fast bowler, was a surprise package and his 92-run stand with Chawla left South with a lot of catching up to do. Dinesh Karthik’s plucky unbeaten 50 helped South reach 127 for 3 by stumps, but a lot of work remains to be done if South, who lost their opening game to West, harbour hopes of staying alive in the competition.
In an interview with London’s Daily Telegraph, Clive Rice, the former South African captain, has slammed the “inverted racism” he claims is threatening to turn South Africa into another Zimbabwe.Speaking on the day England start their tour with a game at Randjesfontein, Rice said that the blame for South Africa’s decline lay with the United Cricket Board (UCBSA). “It’s apartheid in reverse,” he explained. “White players are being driven out of our country in droves. Good luck to them. There’s no future here.” Rice was instrumental in persuading Nottinghamshire, his old county, to sign Kevin Pietersen, the Pietermaritzberg-born batsman who recently made his debut for England after deciding his opportunities were too limited in South Africa.Rice was especially critical of what he claimed was an overreaction in the desire to redress the racism of the apartheid era. “The board have got it into their heads that there’s a generation of black and coloured players straining at the leash to play Test cricket and that holding back whites is the only way they’ll ever get a chance to shine. Wrong. Tiger Woods isn’t a great golfer because he’s black. It’s because he’s a great golfer. Nobody would welcome an influx of top-quality black cricketers more than me. We desperately need them. Unfortunately, few black South Africans regard cricket as their national game. They are more interested in football. They talk about players from Soweto but most of them have been Kenyans imported to make it look good.”Although the UCBSA claims that the quota system was jettisoned in 2002, Rice dismissed that as “absolute bullshit” and added that the bias against whites was driving them away from cricket as well as rugby. “Why do you think South Africa are slipping down the rankings? We aren’t much better than Zimbabwe or Bangladesh, who are, frankly, pathetic. They call it Test cricket when it’s no better than a series of charity matches. The public aren’t stupid. Mediocrity chases crowds away. That’s why our grounds are half-empty.”And he said that the UCBSA stifled free speech in a bid to paper over the cracks. “No one in the press is allowed to criticise the regime,” he told the Daily Telegraph’s Tony Francis. “Television commentators have to present a sugar-coated view of South African cricket when it’s crumbling before their eyes. Once Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs have retired, it’s Old Mother Hubbard time.”
Three new additions have been made by the Tasmanian selectors to their Tigers squad for next season.They are, Kelby Pickering, David Dawson and Travis Birt.Pickering is a 27-year-old fast bowler, who has had first-class experience with the Southern Redbacks in 1997-98 before moving to Tasmania. He has been an excellent performer in recent seasons with the Glenorchy Cricket Club.David Dawson is a 21-year-old wicket-keeper/batsman from the ACT. In club cricket last season he amassed a creditable 800 runs at an average in excess of 50. He also topped the then ACB Cup aggregate with 552 runs at an average of 50.18. Dawson was a full-time scholar at the AIS Cricket Academy in 2002 and has been offered a Rookie contract for the first time.Travis Birt at 21 years of age is a powerful left-handed batsman who dominated club cricket last season with Glenorchy and has previously held a Rookie contract with Victoria in 2001-02. He also attended the AIS Cricket Academy in 2001 and is a former Australian Under-19 opening batsman. Birt began his cricket career with Sale in Victoria before moving to Tasmania last season with the sole objective of forcing his way into the Tasmanian team.Tasmanian coach Brian McFadyen said: “I am very pleased with the addition of all three players to our squad. Both Pickering and Dawson are well known for their determination, work ethic and attitudes. Kelby deserves this opportunity due to superb club and solid ACB Cup performances. David Dawson is well regarded for his all-round skills and he provides excellent balance to our squad along with the other two additions.””Birt could not have done any more in club cricket last season. He has a powerful game based around his back-foot play and we believe he has a bright future for Tasmania.”The State selection panel have selected a squad of 27 players, comprising both contracted and non-contracted players. The panel has the ability to revise the squad wherever appropriate.Sixteen senior contracts, and the maximum of five rookie contracts have been offered.The Tasmanian Cricket Association has the option of offering a further two senior contracts by September 29.ACB Contracts – Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson.Senior contracts squad – George Bailey, Sean Clingeleffer, Jamie Cox, Graeme Cunningham, Gerard Denton, Michael Dighton, Michael Di Venuto, Xavier Doherty, Andrew Downton, Brett Geeves, Adam Griffith, Scott Kremerskothen, Daniel Marsh, Scott Mason, Shannon Tubb, Damien Wright.Rookie contracts – Travis Birt, Luke Butterworth, David Dawson, Ben Hilfenhaus, Tim Paine.Uncontracted – Chris Bassano, Adam Polkinghorne, Kelby Pickering, Brad Thomas.
It says much for cricket’s resurgence in the West Country that England’s selectors have picked both their tour replacements for India from the same patch. Somerset, whose supporters must at times have tired of reminiscing about the glory days of Richards, Botham and Garner, have the first Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy in their Taunton cabinet. One of the primary architects of that success, fast bowler Richard Johnson, will be on the plane to Mumbai next week.For Johnson’s international aspirations, fate’s summer frown has mellowed into an autumnal smile. Three times he was called into the England squad during the Ashes series; three times he was rebuffed at the last minute. But he bore such rejection stoically.”Really it was my friends and family who were frustrated with the situation,” Johnson said. “I was just happy to be involved, and gaining experience of Test match grounds during the summer against the Aussies. It was great.”It is ironic that Johnson is going to India as a result of the withdrawal of his county team-mate Andrew Caddick. “I understand Caddy’s decision 100 per cent. I’m in a different situation. I’m 26 years old, and opportunities like this don’t always come round. I’m going to grab this one with both hands.”Johnson generates sharp pace off a relatively short run, with a vigorous delivery action. He can also swing the ball and move it off the seam, a key factor in winning him the selectors’ vote ahead of Chris Silverwood and Martin Bicknell. “In India as a seamer you’ve got to try and keep it tight, but if you can swing the ball you’ve got a chance of taking wickets, so hopefully if the ball swings out there I’ve got a chance.”With a haul of 62 first-class wickets in 2001, Johnson’s move from Middlesex to Somerset is plainly bearing fruit. “It was a very difficult decision to leave Middlesex. I’d been there since I was nine years old. In my heart of hearts Middlesex is my club, but I knew that Kevin Shine could help me at Somerset. My gut feeling was to move, and I knew it could help my career, and so far it’s proved right.”If the momentum continues over the rest of this year, at least three players from England’s westernmost county – Trescothick, Caddick and Johnson – will be vying for international honours in 2002.