By Kate Laven

Ntini only arrived in late July to cover for Heath Streak

It took just a few hours for South Africa Test bowler Makhaya Ntini to make an impression on county cricket in England when he took nine wickets for Warwickshire in his first championship match at Lord's.

Ntini likes Lord's. It was there in 2003 that he became the first black South African cricketer to capture 10 wickets in a match earning the coveted right to have his name etched indelibly on the famous honours board.

"Lord's has been very good to me. I play well whenever I go there so there won't be any nerves for me on Saturday."

The 28 year-old Ntini, who since making his international debut in 1998 has taken 221 Test wickets, admits that joining up with Warwickshire late - he arrived at the start of August, more than three months into the season - has left him feeling his role in the final will be one of support rather than centre stage

"The players are really looking forward to it but from my side, I have to make sure I am supporting them and doing the right thing for the team.

"I've joined late and so it has been difficult to really feel part of what is going on.

"But I came here to learn and get my game up to standard so I'm OK with that.

NTINI AT WARWICKSHIRE 18 wickets in County Championship @ 28.44 Two wickets in Totesport League @ 21 Two wickets in C&G semi @ 6

"They have done a really good job in getting to the final so it makes me feel a bit awkward but they have really supported me and have made me feel part of the team so I shall be doing my best and if I can make a contribution I shall take a full part in the celebrations.

"A win is a win. For Warwickshire it would mean a lot to win the C&G final because it is one of the biggest games in English cricket. It will be a full house, the atmosphere will be great and we are all up for it."

It was no coincidence that Ntini ended up at Warwickshire, following in the footsteps of South Africa fast bowlers Allan Donald, who first joined the Club in 1987 and is now bowling coach and Shaun Pollock.

Until the Warwickshire offer arrived, he had not been approached by any English county but he is enjoying his stint with the club and would like to return.

"I came to the right club. Coming to Warwickshire felt like coming home because most of the team seem to be South African so I have become attached to them very quickly. "During my visits to England with South Africa, I saw all the county clubs but Warwickshire was the one that attracted all the South Africa fast bowlers.

"I wanted to come over here and learn to bowl in English conditions and get more experience.

There are only a couple of guys who speak Xhosa (tribal language)but it makes them laugh Makhaya Ntini

"The conditions are pretty much what I expected though there has been a lot of cricket and that has been a bit of a shock.

"You play day in day out and rest days are spent travelling so it has been a nightmare.

"I have had to get used to it and I'm coping. My fitness is very good and I don't get tired.

"My game has improved because I'm learning more about bowling in different conditions which is one of the reasons I wanted to come.

"My wife and family are coming over for the last 10 days of the season so if Warwickshire want me and if my family agree, I would love to come back."

There has been no let up in his trademark jabbering on the field, which drives opponents mad but relieves tension among team-mates at vital times.

"At Warwickshire, they don't understand me. There are only a couple of guys who speak Xhosa (a tribal language) but it makes them laugh," said Ntini who could not speak a word of English until he was 14.

He has been dubbed 'Crazy Frog' since he has enthusiastically embraced the 'ding-ding-ding' routine and his calls to 12th man for drinks comprise a sequence of high-pitched whistles, making him sound like a character from The Clangers.

"It is part of me to make people smile," he grinned.