GLEN Chapple today revealed the secret behind his impressive early-season form - a winter spent watching video nasties!

The 22-year-old paceman's rapid development stalled in 1995, a season he started as an England candidate, but ended with only 33 championship wickets.

But he opened the 1996 campaign with five wickets in the England trial at Chelmsford to put himself back in the frame.

And the Earby lad looked back near his best in Lancashire's opening championship fixture at Canterbury yesterday, sending back both Kent openers in an eight over new ball spell.

"Last year was disappointing for me," Chapple admitted. "I took a step backwards.

"I didn't know why it was happening at the time, but watching videos in the winter I was getting too front on." Chapple spent the winter modifying his action and working on his strength in a bid to return to his 1994 form which was good enough to earn an England A. The early signs are promising. His wickets reduced Kent to 14 for 2, but Trevor Ward and Carl Hooper led a recovery until rain stopped play for the day at 12.30, and the start of play was again delayed due to rain today.

Lancashire went into the game with four seamers and skipper Mike Watkinson their only spinner, with Steve Elworthy recalled to join Chapple, Peter Martin and Ian Austin after being left out for the Benson & Hedges Cup victory at Chesterfield.

Elworthy needs a good performance to stake his claim for the next B&H game at Leicester on Tuesday.

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