WI local: Drakes happy with county club pick

Vasbert Drakes says he is delighted to have another chance in English County Cricket.

Drakes, a fast bowling allrounder who plays professionally for Border in South Africa, signed last week to play for Warwickshire in English County Championship.

"From my point of view it's a great delight to get another crack at county cricket," said the 31-year-old who formerly played for Nottinghamshire and Sussex.

"I'm not playing at the highest level (Test cricket) so the next best thing is to get into county cricket and continue to make a name for myself."

Drakes is unable to play for the West Indies as eligibilty rules state that players must be available for the regional season to qualify for selection. The South African season clashes with the West Indies competition and Drakes has preferred to ply his trade in South Africa.

"Warwickshire has decided to invest in me and I'm very delighted. They could have looked elsewhere," he said. "I see it as a major challenge. If you work hard enough in county cricket you will be rewarded, and that's my aim, to work hard and reap the rewards."

The contact with the county side was made through Drakes' agent after the South African skipper Shaun Pollock was unavailable. Another South African, Allan Donald, was the overseas player at Warwickshire but he has retired from the county game.

With his new contract Drakes will be unable to take any part in the regional competitions, as the South African season ends in March, and the English campaign opens in early May.

"To come back to Barbados and play might only be robbing a youngster of a play. If there are guys there who can do the job I would prefer to let them have the opportunity," said Drakes, who lives with his wife, Sharon and son, Dominic, in an East London suburb, an hour away from former President Nelson Mandela.

Drakes was back home earlier this year playing for Pickwick in the Division 1 competition. While here he hired a physical trainer to aid with his fitness.

"Cricket is my job, so I have to keep healthy. I took some time off and did some strength work. To play cricket at that level you must always be physically and mentally focused," he said. "The game pays me so I have to be ready."

So far in the South African SuperSport first-class competition Drakes is fourth in the bowling with 22 wickets (average 21.59) off 179.1 overs in four matches. He has 136 runs (average 22.66) with a highest score of 39.