This English summer there is an extraordinary number of Australians playing cricket for the different County clubs. In all, there are 12 Aussies playing for one of the 18 County sides in this country. Matty Hayden (Northampton), Jamie Cox (Somerset), Ian Harvey (Gloucerstershire), Tom Moody (Worcestershire), Stuart Law (Essex), Michael Kasprowicz (Leicestershire), Michael DiVenuto (Sussex), Greg Blewett (Yorkshire), Michael Slater (Derbyshire), David Boon (Durham), yours truly (Middlesex) and Andrew Symonds (Kent) are the overseas professionals this year.

I believe it is a very positive reflection on Australian cricket that the County clubs are leaning towards Australian overseas players more than any other country in international cricket. From a biased point of view I think the Counties respect that they can't really go wrong in employing Australian professionals. For one, all of the guys are talented players but more importantly the Counties know that they will also be employing players who are very competitive and who will bring with them an excellent work ethic that we are so used to in our system of cricket at home.

This week I played against Andrew Symonds who has just started his first season with Kent. After his brilliant century in the Sheffield Shield final it was no surprise to see 'Symo' in outstanding form with the bat. Although we were able to dismiss him for 67 he looked in ominous touch, it won't surprise me at all to see him enjoying a very productive season with his adopted club. A player like 'Symo' is a perfect choice as an overseas player. Not only is he a very talented player but he is also a much improved medium pace bowler who just happens to be the best fieldsman in Australia. Add to that the fact that he is a damned good bloke and I would say that Kent will be pretty satisfied with their 1999 signing.

Talking to 'Symo' during the game he told me that he was really looking forward to the season ahead. He is enjoying the company of his new Kent team-mates and although he is feeling the cold weather as much as I am, he is settling well in the UK. For the four days of our first Championship game the temperature averaged 8 degrees for the game, a bit of a change from the West Indies or the Gabba where Symo played his last game of cricket, and a nightmare of a climate for these two Antipodean visitors.

West Indian Carl Hooper has been Kent's overseas pro for a number of seasons now, and while Symo may have a big pair of boots to fill in that regard, it looks like it won't take him long to become an integral part of the Kent team. Unfortunately no result was produced from game number one at Lords, mainly as a result of an abandoned first day, but all in all it was good to get the body back into County cricket mode.

Jamie Cox started his season as captain of Somerset with 139 against the Combined University team and Michael 'Kaspro' took wickets in both innings to help his adopted County to the first outright victory of this Championship season.

From Lords

Still Freezing!

JL