23rd April 2007

THE covers come off at Sonning Lane this Saturday as Reading rev up for the
start of the new season with their opening practise match against a
Berkshire Development XI (10.30am). And new skipper Aftab Habib can’t wait to lead his side into action as they
build-up towards the start of the Home Counties Premier League campaign.
Former England player Habib, who has taken over as captain from David Barr,
said: “I’m really looking forward to the season.

These are exciting times at Reading. We’ve got a useful looking team and I’ve got a good feeling
about the season ahead.”

The 35-year-old batsman is determined to make sure there is no repeat of last year’s nail-biting finale which only saw the club keep its Premier
League status by the skin of its teeth on the final day. “This is too big a club to go down, said Habib. “But players have got to realise that they are playing for a big club that needs some silverware. It has been far too long since Reading last won something and the time has
come to turn that around.”

Habib returns to his roots on the back of a successful winter spent playing in New Zealand. He was part of the New Plymouth Marist side which won a major one day competition. And Habib also collected a trophy at a minor counties level playing for Taranaki as they lifted the Hawk Cup for the first time in 13 years with victory over Hamilton.

During his time at Taranaki, left arm quickie Chris Cruikshank caught Habib’s eye and the 21-year-old speed merchant has agreed to come over as Reading’s overseas star for the 2007 campaign. And Habib feels Cruikshank can play a major role at Sonning Lane this season. He said: “He’s a super-fit guy who will run in all day for you. He really has got a lot of energy and stamina and bowls very quickly indeed. He’s contracted to Central Districts and although he’s only played a couple of first class games in New Zealand he’s shown a lot of promise. “He’s got some very good ideas. I won’t be putting too much pressure on him and I’ll be careful not to burn him out but I’m sure the other bowlers at Reading will feed off him and learn a lot.”

Meanwhile, Habib is looking forward to enjoying his cricket again after retiring from the first class game at the end of last season. And having learnt his trade at Reading as a colt before going on to forge a successful 16-year professional career at Essex, Middlesex and Leicestershire, he admits that it is a good feeling to be coming back home. “I was born and bred here and it feels good to be back. I’ve got a lot of friends at the club who I’ve known a long time and it feels like I’ve never been away.” He added: “It will be good to be able to enjoy my cricket again. There is a
lot of pressure and stress playing in the first class game and although it was a tough decision I felt the time had come to hang up my professional boots.”

Habib’s record of scoring almost 9,000 runs in 159 first class matches at an average of 41.85 speaks for itself and the first class game’s loss is certainly Reading and Berkshire’s gain. A highly motivated and positive player, Habib is determined to lead Reading on the glory trail. He added: “Reading is too big a club not to be winning things. We will have to be patient and it might not happen this year but I want us to be up there or thereabouts challenging at the top. “The players just need a bit more self belief. They have nothing to lose and nothing to prove. I just want them to enjoy their cricket. “We’ve got some real talent here at the club and we just need to fight for
every game.”