sets his sights CHRIS SCHOFIELD has returned from a successful England A tour of the Caribbean with his sights set on establishing himself as a genuine all-rounder for Lancashire this summer.

Schofield and John Crawley flew back to Manchester at the weekend after helping the tourists reach the semi finals of the Busta Cup, where they lost to Carl Hooper's Guyana.

"It's been fantastic," said Schofield, who finished the tour strongly after being left out of the first two matches.

"It was very disappointing when I got left out early on, but in the end I got selected and I think I did my job.

"I ended up with more than 20 wickets averaging about three per innings which wasn't bad.

"And batting-wise I did really well, getting three or four 50s."

Schofield used the tour as a chance to change his approach, cutting out some of the more unorthodox shots which have entertained Lancashire supporters for the last few years.

He added: "I only played the reverse sweep about three times all tour!"

"I think it's going to be more beneficial for me to be playing a bit straighter so I'm trying to work shots like that out of my game - or at least to save them for one-day matches.

"If after this tour people go away and think I can bat as well, hopefully I will be knocking on some people's doors again." Schofield believes his partnership with Crawley has also developed, which should benefit Lancashire.

"John was vice-captain on the trip and him and the captain, Mark Alleyne, worked well as a partnership," said the leg-spinner.

"Me and Creepy have spoken a lot through the tour and learned quite a lot, so we're hoping for big things this year - when we're all looking forward to having Muttiah Muralitharan back, too."

One other thing Schofield and Crawley had in common on the tour was a moment of controversy.

In an early game, Schofield ran from the field in amazement after he had been given out caught behind.

And late in the defeat by Guyana, Crawley threw the ball to the ground in disgust after England had an appeal turned down.

"I know exactly how the senior guys must be feeling in Sri Lanka because sometimes things go against you," reflected Schofield.

"I know you shouldn't react in that way but it is very difficult. I know my caught-behind bounced miles in front of the wicket keeper, and the Barbados crowd were cheering me and booing him when it was given out."

Schofield is now looking forward to Lancashire's pre-season trip to South Africa which starts next week. four

decks

14

point CLASS ACT: Chris Schofield enjoyed a successful England A tour I only played

the reverse

sweep about

three times!