Carter aiming for a Lord's finale

By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent

Warwickshire seamer Neil Carter is aiming for another Lord’s final to end his county career on a high. The 37-year-old English-qualified South African is expected to retire next month after 12 seasons at Edgbaston but he hopes to bow out by playing for Warwickshire in the Clydesdale Bank 40 final at Lord’s on September 15.

Carter has been reduced to a bit part role with Warwickshire for most of this season but he helped them book their place in tomorrow’s semi-final against Lancashire at Old Trafford by taking four wickets in Monday’s final group match against Yorkshire at Scarborough in his first appearance in this season’s competition.

Carter is in the squad again for the semi-final which will bring back happy memories of the last time Warwickshire played Lancashire in the last four of a major competition.

That was back in 2002 when Carter strode to the wicket as Warwickshire’s last man with two runs needed to win their Benson and Hedges Cup semi-final. He calmly flicked Glen Chapple for four over short fine leg and Warwickshire went on to win the final.

“It’s ten years since we beat Lancashire at Old Trafford and that brings back good memories for me,” Carter said. “I didn’t play in the early rounds of the competition then either, I just played in the quarter semi and final, maybe it could be the same this year.”

Although Carter has played little first team cricket this year – just two appearances in Warwickshire’s LV= County Championship title push and only one in the Friends Life t20 – he has kept busy by playing for Smethwick in the Birmingham League and attending a busy schedule of functions in his benefit year.

“I have kept fit by cycling and I have been bowling in the nets and for Smethwick at weekends,” he added. “So my rhythm is fine. It actually felt so much easier bowling in middle practice at Edgbaston than it has been in the leagues because the outfields have been so heavy and thick.

“The outfield at Edgbaston is lovely so coming to run up here you feel as fresh as a daisy. Scarborough is a lovely wicket because the ball does come on. Saturday is a different story. The ball does sometimes carry at Old Trafford with the new one but it’s going to turn.

“We are going to have to have few things up our sleeve because I presume they are going to play two, maybe three, spinners. I’m hoping that they produce a good wicket. There’s pressure on them to produce a good wicket not like the Championship game they had against Worcestershire. They will be under a bit of scrutiny on that but it’s going to  turn anyway.”


Date: 31/08/2012 12:50:47 by Paul Bolton
In: Warwickshire | Today | Lancashire |