STEVE Rhodes will soon be leading Worcestershire into County Championship action in the absence of captain Graeme Hick -- and he's determined to make a good job of it!

The popular New Road wicketkeeper warmed up to the task by skippering the side last week in the three-day friendly with Cambridge University which ended in draw at Fenner's.

But it's only a matter of time now before he will be taking over the reins in earnest from Hick who is set to miss a number of matches this season due to being one of England's 12 centrally contracted players.

It had been thought that vice-captain Rhodes would take charge for this week's home Championship match with Middlesex because Hick was going to be away at an England training camp in Taunton.

The proposed three-day training programme, however, has now been cancelled, making Worcestershire's England star available to face Middlesex in a match which begins at New Road on Thursday.

For 35-year-old Rhodes, however, the task of leading the side in the Championship is something he will confidently take in his stride.

Indeed, he began last season as the County's acting captain because of Hick and Tom Moody's World Cup duties and passed the test with flying colours.

This time he will have the extra bonus of being able to turn to Australian Test star Glenn McGrath for advice if and when it's needed.

Long serving Rhodes said: "Glenn is a vastly experienced Test cricketer and someone I can get information from. Then, of course, there's the likes of Richard Illingworth and Stuart Lampitt.

"It won't be a case of I'll be right in the deep end with nobody really around me. This time it will be slightly different."

Rhodes, however, is determined to make sure the extra responsibility of being vice-captain will not affect his own performances on the field.

"I always start every season very optimistically. Last season for me was disappointing because I didn't get more runs. That was the first time really because I've been very consistent over the years.

"It was the first year that I didn't get the amount of runs I wanted, so that's going to be a priority as well as maintaining good wicketkeeping form."

Rhodes also hopes his bubbly presence in the middle will help the rest of his team-mates.

"I find myself, especially in one-day cricket, very busily involved in rousing the rest of the troops. It brings out the best in me because it makes my adrenaline pump, so hopefully I'll carry on that sort of work."

Rhodes admits to being bitterly disappointed at the outcome of Worcestershire's rain-ravaged Benson & Hedges Cup group campaign which involved one proper game, one ten over slog, three matches rained off and all over for the season in ten soggy days.

But that's all behind him now and he's anxious for the County to start making an impression in the rest of the competitions this term.

"As a team goal we certainly want to get into the First Division in the Championship.

"As far as the National League is concerned, I thought we had a fantastic season last year and certainly to finish in the top three this season would be a great achievement."

Monday, May 8, 2000.