GRAHAM Napier is back and firing again after yet another cruel twist to his injury-hit career.
The all-rounder, who plays his club cricket for Colchester and East Essex, missed the opening weeks of the season with a knee problem, which thankfully for him and Essex has cleared up suffiently for him to return to first-team action.
Napier was left worried by the injury, especially as it had arrived at exactly the wrong time in the season, but he has reminded everyone of his ability in recent one-day matches.
He told the Gazette ahead of today's LV County Championship match against Leicestershire which he hopes to be selected for: "I went away to New Zealand in the winter and gained a lot of confidence by coming in and taking wickets and scoring runs.
"I've brought that into the first team here and it's been a fantastic start for me - eight wickets in three games - and I couldn't have asked for more.
"It was frustrating to get injured but that's just part of sport and as I've got older I've just learned to accept it, get over it and get out playing again.
"Thankfully I've got through this injury and I'm back in the side and playing well."
Napier now has his eyes on securing a place in Essex's four-day side, rather than being regarded as a one-day specialist.
Having made it back into the one-day side, being selected for the four-day team where Essex have plenty of competition for places is the natural progression.
He said: "My stepping stones were to get back into one-day side and do well in that and then progress to the four-day side.
"I played one Second XI game and did well in that (took three for 15 and four for 31 in Essex/Kent combined v Middlesex at Garon Park, Southend, between May 7 and 9) and if I don't make the squad for the Leicestershire game I'll go back to the seconds and try and do well again there."
Napier played down suggestions of the difficulty of being part of a successful side when he isn't playing regularly.
He said: "Being part of a successful team is always hard work because if you're playing you're always trying to hang on to your place and if you're not you've got to perform well to get back in the team.
"For Essex as a club that's great because it means we're producing better and better players.
"I like being part of that because it means I've got to perform better and play the best cricket I can play to get into the side."
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