Schofield relishing opportunity

Leg-spinner Chris Schofield is determined to make his mark for Surrey after being given a second chance at first-class cricket.

The 28-year-old played for Lancashire between 1998 and 2004, leaving in acrimonious circumstances, and then spent two years playing minor counties cricket with Suffolk and Cheshire.

He had a handful of games with Derbyshire and Sussex's second XI before Surrey took an interest halfway through 2006. He was duly signed on a one-year contract for 2007 and has made the most of his chances.

His most recent innings for Surrey, against Hampshire in the Friends Provident Trophy, saw him top-score with 75, sharing a 122-run seventh-wicket partnership of 122 with Rikki Clarke.

“When I was with Lancashire, the only reason I was playing first-class cricket was as a batter,” Schofield told ecb.co.uk. “I made myself into a number six batter so the club do know I can hold a bat.

“At the moment in four-day cricket there has been a lack of runs. We have been relying on Ramps (Mark Ramprakash) and the top four to get the runs and we've been struggling a bit down the order. So that's why they've brought me in, for the option as an extra batter.”

But it is with the ball that most people are interested to see how he fares, after his bowling fell away while he was at Lancashire.

“I think that is the only reason I am playing county cricket, for my bowling,” he said.

“At Lancs I knew that for the last couple of years the spin department was already used up with Gary Keedy, Dinesh Mongia and Carl Hooper so for me to get the ball in my hand was very rare.

“I knew that to play county cricket I had to get my bowling back how it should be.

“There is a lot of belief in Mark Butcher to be able to give me the ball. I'm bowling a lot of overs and he is bringing me on at pressure times when the team need me.

“In my later years at Lancs they didn't have that belief in me. I think it all boils down to that - I just didn't get enough overs under my belt.

“I'm back bowling a lot of overs and I can just run up and bowl how I want to bowl.

“That's the way I started my career and now it's getting back to the way it should be.”

Schofield was part of the attack which recently saw Worcestershire rack up 701 for five at New Road, but he was pleased with how he performed on a personal level.

“You just get on with the game and try to concentrate on what you're doing,” he said. “I was happy with the way I bowled. I think I just bowled three bad balls in my 30-odd overs.

“The balls that did get hit for six, it wasn't a case of bad bowling - it was just good batting with those short boundaries. They were on top at the time and were happy to play their shots.

“It is difficult when you are not taking wickets and there are a lot of runs on the board - their confidence is up with the balls flying to the boundary.

“To go for four an over on that wicket, I was pretty happy with my performance.”

Surrey fielded for five straight sessions, which began to take its toll on the players.

“Obviously I have been out of the game for a couple of years, so to be in the field for a day and a half is very draining,” Schofield said.

“But I've done it before and it's good to know I can do it again.”

Surrey took a gamble on Schofield and it looks to be paying off for them, particularly in one-day cricket - he has taken 13 wickets at an average of 19.84 and scored 101 runs.

“I owe Surrey a lot for giving me the opportunity,” he said. “I've worked very hard for the last two years trying to get back to where I think I should be, playing county cricket.

“I still think I have a lot to offer the game and for them to give me the opportunity they have done - playing in all the one-day games and a couple of championship games as well - is good.

“They have started to believe in me and that I can do a job for the club. Things have been going very well and the club are happy with my progress.”