Inside knowledge can boost county's quest

TOM Brett has taken on a new role ahead of Staffordshire's NCCA Championship game against Cambridgeshire.

- Chris Travers

The 35-year-old is Staffs' frontline spinner, but he's also been the county's 'spy in the camp' ahead of this weekend Division One East finale at Peterborough.

It's a venue where Staffordshire have never played, but Brett is well versed in what the venue offers.

The slow left-armer plays his club cricket for Finedon Dolben, with one of their Northants Premier League rivals being Peterborough.

So for information about what life at Bretton Gate is like, skipper James Kettleborough has had to look no further than his close pal.

"It's an open place to play cricket. I played there in July in the league T20s and with three games in a day, it did start to spin," said Brett.

"I've said to Ketts that it's the type of place you look to bat first and hope it breaks up as the game goes on. For a three-day game they will have prepared it really well, but that has to be the hope that it spins.

"I've always felt I bowled quite nicely there and it's a good place to bowl. I just hope it's a similar wicket to what I expect."

Staffordshire hit the road needing a snooker if they are to retain their Division One East title.