VIKRAM Solanki was obviously delighted when he became the first Worcestershire player this season to complete 1,000 first-class runs -- but he's convinced he should have done it quicker!

The stylish 24-year-old reached the magical milestone during last week's County Championship Division Two match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

It is the second campaign on the trot that he has completed 1,000 in a season following the 1,339 he piled up last year.

This term, however, he feels he should have boosted his tally further by converting more of his fifties into hundreds.

He said: "It's been a slightly up and down season for me.

"I'd have liked to have got a few more runs, but then again you could have asked me that any year and at any time and I'd say I'd like to have got a few more.

"I've played well and badly in parts this season, it's been that sort of year for me."

So far this term he has hit two Championships centuries -- 161 not out against Gloucestershire at Bristol in May and 160 off the Warwickshire attack at New Road last month.

But the highlight for him "by far" was being selected for the England one-day squad earlier this season.

It was a major feather in his cap, but it's been with Worcestershire where he's again proved he has the talent to eventually go on and one day clinch a place in the Test arena.

"I've been playing quite well, but as I say it's been slightly stop-start for me. I'd loved to convert a few more of the fifties into hundreds.

"I set myself targets, but they are only vague targets. The real one I set out in my mind at the start of each season is to hope I've improved in all aspects of my game by the end of the year. I feel I've done that this year and I've a learned a little bit more.

"At the end of the day it's all about scoring runs and taking wickets, but there's a lot more to it than that as well as dealing with certain situations.

"But I'm a year older and had another year's experience of county cricket, so hopefully I can build on that in the future. Basically, I'd just like to be successful as I can at which ever level I find myself at.

"I'd love to play consistently at a higher level obviously, and I'd like to have some success with Worcestershire as well."

Solanki considers himself lucky to have such highly experienced players to learn from at New Road like Graeme Hick, Glenn McGrath and Steve Rhodes.

"I've been spoilt really with having Graeme around throughout my career as well as Tom Moody and all the senior guys in the dressing room who have a had a taste of international and Test cricket.

"I have a great deal of respect for all of them, but particularly Graeme. I just use him as an example for anything really -- his batting, his attitude towards cricket and the way he goes about it.

"He's certainly one I look up to and I'm so lucky to have someone like that around."

Solanki, meanwhile, is still waiting for that elusive double century to come his way.

He's got close to it on a number of occasions particularly when he hit 185 for England 'A' against Bangladesh in Chittagong during the winter.

It remains his highest first-class score while his best in the Championship remains the 171 he hit against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham last season.

He said: " It's disappointing I haven't got a double hundred. I've found myself in positions where I should have gone on and done it. I should have in the match against Warwickshire at New Road.

"But really I'd love to get more than one double hundred. I see other guys getting them and I think I wouldn't mind one of those."