'There is still more to come' says Richard Johnson

Somerset paceman Richard Johnson, who is currently missing for the team that is playing in the championship down at the Hampshire Rosebowl is delighted with the way that the season has gone for him so far, even though on his own admission he has been far from 100% fit.

Until the present round of matches Johnson was one of the leading wicket takers in the county championship with twenty wickets to his name, after several impressive performances in the first part of the season.

"It's going well for me and I've been bowling OK but I'm still not fully fit, and there's still some more to come. However I can't really quibble with the way that things have started off which is better than I expected, " he told me.

"Two years ago when I first came here I was a bit lucky to get the wickets that I did, but this season I have bowled well to get them, and now I am looking for a bit more consistency."

"The high spot for me so far this season was the game here against Durham when I put the ball in good areas and got the ball to swing. Obviously the Scotland NCL game was a big disappointment, but that was a bit of a freak result," he said.

I asked about his fitness. "I've still got some niggles because my body has not fully adjusted but I am getting there slowly. However after all the alterations that we have done to my back foot I am happy with the way that things are going," he said.

What about his England chances I asked. "If an opportunity comes along then of course I shall be delighted, but at the moment I am concentrating on my Somerset performances. I still feel that I am a couple of weeks from being fully fit. I've still got a groin niggle and I'm only really 75% fit, but I've still managed to get wickets,"

How did he feel about his batting after his century against Gloucestershire. "I've always been a bit laid back about my batting. I try not to take it too seriously, but I have worked hard at it during the winter and I'm starting to get there and I do enjoy my batting. I was a bit disappointed to have to go to the wicket so early in Bristol, but once I got going out there it felt good for me, and of course I was delighted to get a ton, my first but hopefully not my last!" he said.

How did he feel the season was going overall. "From a team perspective things are shaping up very well for us in the championship. We have played well but the weather has not been too kind to us and cost us the game in Derbyshire where if we had won there we would be up near the top of the table and in the C and G we had a brilliant win in Edinburgh, and now we have got a victory in our National League campaign."

How did he feel about the new Twenty 20 Cricket competition. "It could be good for the game and will be a lot of fun which will hopefully attract a wider audience to come along and watch the games," he told me.

Even though Johnson is absent from the championship team at the Rosebowl, he may well be fit enough to play in the NCL game on Sunday, and is expected to play in the Cheltenham and Gloucester fourth round tie against Surrey next Wednesday.