By Simon Dilger Last updated: 13th April 2008
Wright: Perfect start
Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright is eager to shrug off his reputation as a one-day specialist and push his way up the batting order after a sensational knock at Lord's at the weekend.
Wright made a perfect start to his 2008 season, smashing a career best 155 not out in the opening fixture against the MCC at Lord's.
The 23-year-old, who has achieved international recognition in the limited overs game, did his credentials as a future Test player no harm as he easily beat his previous first-class high of 100 against Loughborough University four years ago.
"I just want to try to build on what has happened in the winter and kick on again this summer, he said.
"This is a good start. It is time to concentrate improving my form in Championship-mode, try to break in as a top-six batter and be a true all-rounder.
"Just to be with England is so special but once you get a taste you want to keep playing."
Wright has a number of supporters in the international hierarchy who believe he has the potential to become a useful addition to England's pace attack.
And on the face of his performance in this season's curtain-raiser, despite a shoulder injury that hampered his pre-season preparation, he is certainly on the right track.
Wright bowled with pace and hostility, out foxing Owias Shah with a short ball and another bouncer leaving tail ender Steve Kirby requiring hospital treatment.
The 30-year-old seamer passed out a second time after he was escorted to the pavilion causing concern from his former Leicestershire team mate.
"I had never seen anything like that in cricket, so it shook me up quite a lot at the time," said Wright.
"Once he got off the pitch I thought that was it. But to go and see him in the changing room - and him being out on the floor - was obviously quite scary."
| Fixture |
|---|
| Saturday 11th October |
| 1 Day Intl Series |
| Bangladesh vs New Zealand |
| Test Match Series |
| India vs Australia |
| International Quadrangular Series |
| Canada vs Zimbabwe |
| Sri Lanka vs Pakistan |
| Sunday 12th October |
| International Quadrangular Series |
| Pakistan vs Zimbabwe |
| Canada vs Sri Lanka |
| Monday 13th October |
| International Quadrangular Series |
| TBC vs TBC |
| TBC vs TBC |
| Tuesday 14th October |
| 1 Day Intl Series |
| Bangladesh vs New Zealand |
| Friday 17th October |
| Test Match Series |
| India vs Australia |
| Result |
|---|
| Friday 10th October |
| International Quadrangular Series |
| Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets. |
| Canada vs Pakistan Pakistan won by 35 runs. |
| Thursday 9th October |
| 1 Day Intl Series |
| Bangladesh vs New Zealand Bangladesh won by 7 wickets. |
| Wednesday 24th September |
| County Championship - Division One |
| Somerset vs Lancashire Lancashire won by 8 wickets. |
| Sussex vs Yorkshire Match Drawn |
| Kent vs Durham Durham won by an innings and 71 runs. |
| Nottinghamshire vs Hampshire Hampshire won by 203 runs. |
| County Championship - Division Two |
| Gloucestershire vs Essex Match Drawn |
| Northamptonshire vs Middlesex Middlesex won by 93 runs. |
| Leicestershire vs Derbyshire Leicestershire won by 8 wickets. |
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