Steffan Jones has at last received the international recognition that many Somerset supporters feel that he has more than earned, but not for England.

Fast bowler Steffan, who hails from Llanelli, has been named in the Welsh squad that will take on England in the first international challenge match between the two countries at Cardiff on June 24th.

The game is being staged as part of the England teams preparations for the Nat West Series Tournament involving England, India and Sri Lanka from June 27th to July13th.

Steffan started his cricketing career in the principality, and played for the Welsh national side from Under 13 to Under 19 level. He also played for Glamorgan Second XI and Wales Minor Counties before joining Somerset in 1997.

For Steffan this will be another step towards gaining the international honours that he feels he deserves. He told me: "This is a great opportunity for me to impress the England selectors, and I'm determined to make the most of it, and show them just how good a one day bowler I am."

The Welshman continued: "Over the last three years I have been one of the leading one day bowlers in the country, and if it means that I have got to bowl `Banger' out for a duck then that is what I will do."

There will be further Somerset interest in the game because the umpires who are due to stand out in the middle are Merv Kitchen and Allan Jones, both of whom were favourites at the County Ground during their playing days.

© SOMERSET