BBC SPORT | Cricket | Counties | New kid on the block



By Oliver Brett BBC Sport Online

In some ways, Andy Clarke is a cricketer who belongs in a bygone age.

One of the only modern players on the county circuit with long hair and sideburns, he has an interesting view on the modern game.

When interviewed by the Cricketers' Who's Who for his opinion on cricket, there is no mention of the two-tier system or 25-over cricket.

Instead, Clarke reveals that "starts should be later" - it's probably just as well he hasn't been on a trip with the England Academy.

Clarke cuts a distinctive figure for Essex

Something of a late developer, Clarke, now aged 26, has never played Championship cricket.

And he will almost certainly be the first cricketer to play in a Lord's final who has never had a first-class cap.

Instead, he has found his niche bowling second change in the one-day team - as a mid-innings strike bowler - and he rarely disappoints, even if his economy rate is not always miserly.

"I played the back 12 games of last summer in the Essex one-day side and as soon as I was in it I stayed in it," he says.

"I just tried to hit a line and length - didn't consciously change anything. Sometimes I change the way I bowl from game to game."

As a youngster Clarke was an MCC pro, so understandably his return to Lord's will be a poignant one.

Fond memories

"When we were there on Test days or Cup final days all the boys were saying: 'What would you give to play in front of 35,000 people?' "

Born near Romford, Clarke went to school in Brentwood and is Essex through and through.

One gets the impression he would be loathe to play for any other country.

"There's so many people in the side who are good influences. Ronnie Irani and Nasser Hussain are so good at settling you down if you are getting a little nervous.

"Obviously the final will be a huge day and everyone's performance counts. But if you worry too much you could let people down."

What happens on the day cannot be predicted, but Clarke will most likely come on as the fourth seamer.

Essex wicket-keeper Andy Flower tells Clarke that when he is bowling well he shapes the ball in a little and it seams away.

When Clarke took his first wicket for Essex - oddly enough against Warwickshire - it was with a slow, long hop and it was his first ball for the county's senior side.

The batsman on that occasion was Nick Knight, who once again will be the most important wicket for Essex to claim on Saturday.

Clarke mixes up his bowling a little and will need to against the multi-skilled Watrwickshire batting.

"You pretty much worry about everyone in the side," he says. "Look at Neil Carter - coming in at number 11 - look at the shot he played to get them into the final.

Clarke put Jamie Foster's arm in plaster

"But we are also such a strong batting line-up. We can chop and mix up the order without messing up the flow.

"The only real certainty is that I'm cemented at number 11, though I have hit four hundreds for the second XI."

Clarke craves an opportunity to get a game in the promotion-chasing Championship side, but knows he will have to be patient.

"You can't change a winning side and the fact is the Championship side is doing very well.

"Hopefully one way or another I'll get my career going."

One person who Clarke has left a big impression on is James Foster.

The England wicket-keeper had his arm broken by him in the nets at the beginning of the season and has played no cricket since.


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