Proof that club cricketers can play for England, Ian Ward was given a second chance by Surrey in 1997, five years after his first. This time he made the most of it. At first he was the bricks and mortar among a penthouse of international stars, but he slowly became an indispensable part of the furniture, combining a solid opener's technique with a calm temperament that underpinned Surrey's quest for three Championship titles in four seasons from 1999 to 2002. And when England A took him to the Caribbean in 2000-01, he batted for over 42 hours on the less-than-friendly pitches to earn himself a slot in England's middle-order against Pakistan and Australia that summer. Unsurprisingly, he was soon found out by Glenn McGrath, but he returned to the county game a stronger player for the experience. Ward is strong off his pads and almost elegant through the covers, where he also fields with the enthusiasm of a new-born lamb. He still harbours hopes of an England recall, and with that in mind, he moved south to Sussex at the end of 2003. He retired from first-class cricket in 2005 to pursue a career as a full-time cricket presenter and commentator.
Lawrence Booth