England newest bowling hero Richard Johnson was back at the County Ground in Taunton this morning, after playing a major part in defeating Zimbabwe inside three days and winning the Man of the Match Award
SOMERSET10-Jun-2003England newest bowling hero Richard Johnson was back at the County Ground in Taunton this morning, after playing a major part in defeating Zimbabwe inside three days and winning the Man of the Match Award.Twenty eight year old Johnson who moved from Middlesex to join the Cidermen for the 2001 season with the express aim of rekindling his international career has achieved that aim and in some style.In his first over he removed two batsmen with successive balls and was on a hat trick, and ended the Zimbabwe innings with the astounding figures of 6 for 33 on his England debut, figures that have assured him of a place in the record books.When I asked him about his Test match debut and his time with the England team `Johnno’ told me: "It was a great experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Meeting up with the players three days before the game felt good because having been around the scene for a while I knew most of the guys and have grown up with them, so I felt very much at home in their company.""The practice days went well for me, but I didn’t know whether I was going to be in the final line up till the morning of the match. I had an idea that I would be playing, but after so many disappointments I don’t take anything for granted," he said."It’s always nice to bat first and chill into the game, rather than bowling right at the start, and it’s always good to get runs. I just went out there and played my normal game, I didn’t feel nervous about the situation I just looked to play the way that I do for Somerset."When did he know that he was going to open the bowling. "I only found out just before the start of their innings, although I had a feeling that it I might open the attack because they have been using Steve Harmison as a first change bowler," he said."I couldn’t have asked for a better start. The ball didn’t swing away it just angled in so I used the conditions. The captain (Nasser Hussain) set a split field for me and said to go for bowled and LBW decisions and I got two in my first over which was a great start."What about the second innings. " I did the same job in the second innings, and with a split field went for bowled and LBW’s. I had two good shouts turned down and didn’t go for many runs so even though I didn’t get any wickets I was quite pleased and did what was asked of me," he said.After such an impressive debut what lies ahead I asked. "Now we have the One Dayer’s, with a friendly against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, and then Pakistan at Old Trafford on Tuesday which is a day nighter. I’m looking forward to that because it’s a different game and there will be a great atmosphere up there."Looking further ahead he said: "I hope that I get my chance in the Test series against South Africa, but some of the senior guys like Darren Gough will be back so there will be a lot of competition for places, but after my experience against Zimbabwe of course I want to hold onto my England place."