ANDREW McGarry gave Suffolk cricket a further boost yesterday by revealing he could be back playing Minor Counties cricket in 2008.After two highly-successful years with Suffolk he signed a one-year contract with Essex in May before damaging a hand which put him out for the season.

By Elvin King

ANDREW McGarry gave Suffolk cricket a further boost yesterday by revealing he could be back playing Minor Counties cricket in 2008.

After two highly-successful years with Suffolk he signed a one-year contract with Essex in May before damaging a hand which put him out for the season.

The 25-year-old played in the earlier rounds of this season's Minor Counties Knock-Out Trophy and watched Suffolk beat Cheshire at Lord's in the final on Monday.

He said: “I was happy playing for Suffolk and running my own business.

“This is what looks as though it might happen next year. I hope so.”

Suffolk secretary Toby Pound spoke of the improvement to Suffolk cricket since Kevin Brooks became director of cricket in 1998 and Andy Brown became coach in 2001.

He said: “We have moved up several notches to be where we are now - envied by most in our level of the game.

“We set out to enjoy a fantastic day out yesterday and to win a game of cricket. We achieved both.”

While Suffolk's 11 players enjoyed a wonderful day they will never forget, Nick Lee and Phil Edwards were left out of the original squad of 13.

It was a bitter pill to swallow as chances to play at Lord's come few and far between, and Lee has good memories of Lord's having scored a century on his previous visit playing for Cambridge UCCE.

Suffolk's leading run-getter in the Minor Counties Championship this season said: “You can say I was pretty disappointed.

“But at the end of the day a decision was made and you have to go along with it.

“It was important that the team won, and I must do my best to ensure it doesn't happen to me again.”