WORCESTESHIRE spinner Matthew Rawnsley is convinced the time has come to step up his career plans at New Road.

"I've got to see my target as starting in the first team next year," said the determined 24-year-old.

This season he had to wait for his chance, but eventually got the call for the County's one-day match against New Zealand 'A' on June 26.

He kept his place and in the match against Middlesex at Southgate claimed his first five-wicket haul in Championship cricket - 5-125.

It was another milestone in what he hopes will be a successful remainder of the campaign.

A couple of seasons ago he alerted New Road officials and supporters of his ever improving talents with an 11 wicket return - 5-71 and 6-44 - against Oxford University in The Parks.

That was in May, 1998, and since then he's been an important part of the County's spinning department which has been so successfully headed in recent years by Richard Illingworth.

Birmingham-born Rawnsley, who made his first team debut for Worcestershire in 1996, said: "Getting into the first team this year has been a little bit slow coming, but that's because of the wickets we have at Worcester and around the country.

"They have been seaming wickets usually or pretty slow wickets, but through bowling well in the Seconds I got my opportunity. It was nice to get in and do well.

"It was really refreshing because when I have got in before I've not really done that great which has been a bit annoying. But that's a negative thing about the past and it was good to get in and do well."

Rawnsley firmly believes that success breeds confidence - just as it did when he picked up his five-wicket bag against Middlesex.

"Confidence is a major part of my game. People wouldn't be on cricket staffs if they didn't have the ability, but what takes you further is the mental side of the game. Whether it's your confidence or game plan it's your mental strength that gets you there.

"It's good that I've been playing second team cricket and then in the first team with the odd game here and there for three or four years. That's actually helped establish myself as a bowler in the first team in Championship cricket.

"Confidence breeds itself but it can go the other way as well. You do badly and you start questioning the technical side of your game and what you are trying to do. Then you start going on a bit of a downward spiral, but it's been good to be on an upward spiral this season."

His continued development at New Road has now reached a point where Rawnsley is mapping out the route for his future New Road career.

"My main target has to be to make sure I finish the season in the first team and start in it next year.

"People say you are still young, but you see players my age around the country doing well for themselves and you just start feeling a little bit left out.

"Also on the horizon has to be my county cap. I've got to try to get that."

Rawnsley, however, accepts that in long-serving Illingworth Worcestershire have a slow left armer of the highest quality.

"Illy's a great bowler and he's one of the best one-day bowlers around there's no doubt about that. In the Championship he's very tight with his runs and he gets wickets through restricting batsmen's options. That's a great asset to have."

As well as his bowling, Rawnsley is fully aware that batting is a valuable commodity to have as an extra string to his bow.

"It's really an important part of my game. What's got me noticed in the past has been my fielding. I still work a lot on my fielding and any string to your bow is great.

"I got a few runs down the order, but my bowling actually affects my batting. If I'm bowling well it just think 'right, I can get a few runs with the bat as well.'

"If I get 20-odd then that's 20 less than I have to go for when I'm bowling - that's the way I see it.

"The New Zealand game was a good opportunity for me to get in and say 'look, I'm around. I'm doing well, don't dare forget about me.'

"I know when I've come in to bat for the first and second team I've felt positive, but it was good to get on a wicket like the one at Southgate when it did help the spin bowlers.

"It was a responsibility for me being the one spinner in the side so I thought 'right, I've got a job to do here' and it was good.

"It's another edge to the game which really makes you think about the game. I love captaincy on the field and off it by motivating the guys."

Monday, July 31,2000.