Neal Howarth is a quiet, easy going type of guy who fits in well at WECC. Nevr one to make a fuss, if the Captain decides to turn the batting order on its head Neal will be perfectly happy. He's grown in confidence over the last two seasons and displays a nice flair with the willow once he's settled in. The early part of his innings can be a little rough while he's settling in and this is where he is most vulnerable. Once past there though, he's in the groove and plays some nice shots. Sixes aren't out of the question. During last year's tour match at Mount Hawke in Cornwall the cameraman missed one shot. Yes, the only six of the innings!

   He's also gently blossoming into a spinner of rare quality, one that can turn the ball all manner of directions to a greater or lesser degree. It's just a case of being given time to develop and fine tune. While still in the developing mode for his craft we believe that it is probably kinder to keep him away from one or two big hitters we know and loathe - er, I mean love - during the course of a season. There's nothing worse than having a couple of good opponents batsmen at the crease, biding their time until the opening bowlers' salvos have been and gone, just waiting to tear into a young 'un and his slightly offline deliveries.

   Neal is quite a laid back kind of a chap. The three minute interview he gave our intrepid tour videographer (that means anyone still sober to operate a video camera) was so thrilling that it was completely cut from the resulting video, because no-one watches silent film anymore. The photo on the right shows Neal in a goonish mood at the game against Chadwick CC (the first game of the 2003 season) - or so we like to think. Maybe he really does rate those stupendously fashionable shades of his.