Aussie Mike Johnston cannot wait to show his Colchester and East Essex team-mates just how good he really is.

And the eager North Perth all-rounder is hoping that Chingford, tomorrow's Shepherd Neame Essex League visitors to Castle Park, will be the First club to really suffer.

"I absolutely love it at Colchester," said the 21-year-old left-arm medium quick strike bowler and middle order right-handed batsman.

"Colchester is a fantastic club and the guys are great, but they haven't seen me hit my top form yet.

"Coming from Perth I am used to bowling on very hard, bouncy wickets, but with all the rain that has fallen on Colchester the ball is tending to keep a little low on the Castle Park pitches.

"That's okay when I'm batting, but I'm still getting used to the conditions and am taking a little more time to adjust with my bowling. Playing over here is such a great experience for me.

"I'm over here initially for a year and I'm thoroughly enjoying it, but I've never seen anything like it when I was batting in mud near the end of a recent game."

Johnston arrived in Colchester on the recommendation of fellow Aussie and former Colchester favourite Matthew Gooch and opening batsman, Essex's Ian Flanagan, who went out to North Perth to play First Grade cricket and coach last winter.

"Ian and Matt felt I would be good for Colchester," he said "And my goal is to help the club win promotion to the Premier Division.

"We've suffered a couple of gliches in our most recent matches and I know it is up to me and the other senior players in the club like Ian Flanagan and Graham Napier to come up with the goods.

"We must do our utmost to put those indifferent performances behind us and get the club back on the winning trail against Chingford tomorrow."

Only three points seperate the two teams in the middle of the Division One table after five matches, while just 12 points seperate Colchester from current leaders Leigh-on-Sea.

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