ROSEBERRY LORDING IT AGAIN AMONG OLD PALS

THE rain, sleet and snow which has welcomed the start of the English cricket season has not dampened the spirit of Mike Rose- berry (pictured above), who is enjoying a reunion with old Middlesex friends at Lord's.

"It really does feel like I've come home," said the 32-year-old opener, who is back this season after a four-year break.

"The last five weeks have been fantastic. Everyone has been shaking my hand and I've had letters from supporters. "The players here have been really welcoming, too." Durham-born Roseberry left Lord's in 1994 to captain his home county in an ambitious move that backfired. Under an enormous weight of expectation, he failed to score a century for Durham and after relinquishing the captaincy, struggled to get in the team. He said: "I never imagined it would turn out the way it did. I could see myself failing, or the team struggling, but never the two together." Durham told Roseberry they would release him from the final two years of his contract if he wanted to move, and a chat with long- time friend Angus Fraser paved the way for this return.

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