Andrew McGarry is in line to make it his first County Championship appearance since last May when Essex open their first division campaign at Chelmsford today.

Andrew McGarry

The 21-year-old Basildon-born fast bowler is included in a party of 13 for the match against Middlesex and has a fine chance of playing after collecting best figures of 5-27 against Cambridge UCCE earlier in the week.

McGarry played in the opening Championship duels against Gloucestershire and Nottinghamshire last year but was dropped after failing to take a wicket.

He never got the nod again but has fought his way back into contention following vigorous winter nets under the critical eye of bowling coach Neil Foster.

"I'm enjoying my cricket at the moment and just want to cement my place in the first team and hopefully turn in some good performances," said the affable seamer.

"Last season I took 40-odd wickets for the seconds and if I could take something like that -- and hopefully quite a few more -- for the first team I be chuffed."

With his new shorter run-up paying early dividends McGarry, who has been at the club since he was nine, appears to be in pole position to spearhead the Essex attack on the eve if the curtain-raiser against Middlesex.

He is keeping his feet firmly on the ground, though, and said: "I've been in and out of the first team since 1999 and it has seemed a very long time, so I just want to get as much County cricket played as possible.

"I'm coming in off half what my run-up has been. It seems to be working at the moment and fingers crossed it will work all year."

The 13 named for the weekend comprise the 11 on duty at Fenners plus veteran all-rounder John Stephenson and Graham Napier.

One of them will play if Scott Brant has not fully recovered from a twisted ankle.

Published Friday, April 18, 2003

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