Ealham hopes six-wicket haul marks return to form

Mark Ealham hopes that a six-wicket return against Lancashire will ignite what he has described as a "stop-start" season for him so far.

In Kent's CricInfo Championship Game against Lancashire, Ealham took six for 64 in his best return of the season so far.

Speaking about his form, Ealham said: "I know it will come. It will just be a case of keep working hard."

In an attempt to spend some time in the middle, Ealham turned out for Kent's second team: "I had a good bowl and got four wickets or so. I batted for a bit and got 25 and had a bit of time at the crease."

Ealham played three games in the recent NatWest Series involving England, Pakistan and Australia and was among England's more successful players in the tournament. Although he only took one wicket in the three games, he did bowl reasonably tidily.

Despite taking his first five-wicket haul in the Championship this season, he is still keen to make more contributions to his team's effort. "It is nice to contribute but I want to produce a bit more, particularly with the bat."

Kent were left in a strong position after the second day of the Lancashire game, having added 77 more runs to their first innings lead of 134 for the loss of only one second innings wicket.

Kent have several things against them in their attempt to gain victory over a Lancashire side who are chasing the CricInfo Championship Division One title.

The weather forecast is not promising for the next few days and with the loss of captain Matthew Fleming, who limped off the field yesterday with a side strain, the Kent bowling attack has lost a seam bowler who would have contributed to Kent's attempt to take ten Lancashire second innings wickets.

Ealham believes there is a lot more work to be done in this match. "It depends on the overhead conditions of course. But there is a history of this pitch flattening out the more a game wears on. That means it might be difficult to take ten second innings wickets."