Essex skipper Ronnie Irani has been given little chance to relax following the end of the domestic season in which he led his county to promotion in both the County Championship and the Norwich Union League.

He missed two weeks at the end of the season having been selected for the England tour party that competed in the ICC Trophy in Sri Lanka and the Britain side that met the Rest of the World in an indoor competition over two days in Cardiff.

Set to link up with the England tourists in Australia at the end of November as a part of the one-day team to play against Australia and Sri Lanka in a triangular tournament, Irani also learned recently that he had been named in an England party to play in the Hong Kong Sixes competition on 2nd and 3rd November.

That takes place in Kowloon and England are led by Matthew Maynard Glamorgan) with Paul Collingwood (Durham), Adam Hollioake (Surrey), Chris Silverwood (Yorkshire), Glenn Chapple (Lancashire) and Martin Saggers (Kent) the other members in the squad.

Irani said, "It's certainly a busy time for me because I'm also working hard on organising various things towards my benefit next year but it's good to know I'm being thought about for selection in these various competitions.

Obviously the big one is the trip to Aussie but frankly, I play every game to win so my attitude will be spot-on. I see it as a terrific honour whenever I'm asked to represent England whatever the competition."

Published Thursday October 31, 2002