By ELVIN KING
SUFFOLK coach Andy Brown says that the side that fields best will win the Minor Counties Championship Knock-Out Trophy at Lord’s on Monday (start 11.0am).
Former Derbyshire batsman Brown has done more than anyone to make Suffolk ’s professional approach the envy of other Minor Counties.
Along with director of cricket Kevin Brooks he has guided Phil Caley’s side to a share of the championship in 2005 and three one-day semi-finals.
Suffolk have lost just once inside the last two years in all competitions, and Brown is sure they are equipped to beat Cheshire at Lord’s.
“Fielding could be the key,” said Brown, who has his players training an hour before the start of every game they play.
“You are in the field for half the game.
“ Cheshire have brought in players of proven ability since, but when they played at Ransomes in the play-off final in 2005 they carried one or two fielders.
“As an all-round side we are up for any challenge.”
Brown says that he will be doing all in his power to make it seem like just another game.
“From hotel room lists onwards it will be normal service,” said Brown, who criticised Cheshire for their safety-first tactics in the play-off final.
“A lot of lads have worked very hard since I arrived in 2001 – and this is a game they are going to win.”
Brown is looking to carry on in 2008, and says: “I enjoy every day with these lads.
“This time of year it seems a long while to April!
“I only want to deal with those who want to take it to another level and these lads have a professional outlook without getting paid.
“I am not interested in those who just want to turn up.
“You see it in the first class game; as soon as players view cricket as just a job they are finished. The enthusiasm has gone.”
Brown says Trevor Smith was a great signing for the county. “It might not equate in figures, but Trevor’s drive and professionalism rubbed off on the rest.
“He came to see us at Grantham on Monday, and his presence gave the lads a lift. With him still in the side I would have no doubts at all about our ability to win on Monday.
“Chris Swallow has stepped up to the plate and over the last two years has become a genuine all-rounder, and our best one-day bowler.”
Brown is proud of what he, Brooks and skipper Phil Caley have achieved. 
“When Phil was first running the side players used to be dragged out of the pub to play for Suffolk ,” added Brown.
“Now he has it all on a plate, and just has to go out and captain.
“There have been moans this season about Kevin, Phil and myself, but if you want success this is what you get – one defeat in two years.”
One aspect of Suffolk ’s play has disappointed Brown this year. “With the quality of batsmen we have we should have managed more than two centuries in the Minor Counties Championship,” he said.
elvin.king@archant.co.uk
     
By ELVIN KING
elvin.king@archant.co.uk
CHESHIRE skipper Andy Hall has warned Suffolk not to expect a cosy visit to Lord’s next Monday.
Two of the strongest Minor Counties Championship sides over the last few years meet in the final 
of the Knock-Out Trophy in a game to be played over 50 overs a side with a 11.0am start.
Hall is still smarting over comments made by Suffolk coach Andy Brown after the 2005 Minor Counties 
play-off final at Ransomes Sports ground, Ipswich.
The game ended in a tame draw with both sides sharing the pennant after Suffolk won the eastern 
division and Cheshire the western.
Brown accused Cheshire of not attempting to make a game of it when they batted their second innings 
to 279 giving Suffolk no run chase.
And this has not been forgotten by the free-scoring Hall.
He said: “We will be going to Lord’s to have a jolly. We feel we have some unfinished business to attend to.
“What was said after the play-off final two years ago was unbelievable.
“We lost the first day through bad weather, and we were not going to throw away a share of the overall championship. 
It meant much more to us than that.
“What the Suffolk coach said was nonsense and I believe he is still working for the team.”
Cheshire are unbeaten this year and are seeking to become only the fourth team to win the Minor Counties Championship 
and Trophy double. Staffordshire (1991 and 1993) and Devon (1994) are the previous double winners.
Cheshire won the trophy three times, but only once at Lord’s – in 1996 when they beat Bedfordshire.
In 1983 they beat Bedfordshire at Macclesfield and in 1987 Cambridgeshire at Christchurch.
While Cheshire won the 2007 western division title by ten points, Suffolk finished fourth in the eastern section 
behind champions Northumberland, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.
Suffolk have been allocated the home dressing room on Monday, while the match will be played in Cheshire 
if it is rained off on Monday.
Sunday September 16 has been set aside for the restaging with Cheshire winning the toss to stage the game.

By ELVIN KING
CHRIS Swallow last night confirmed that he would love to captain Suffolk .
The Copdock and Old Ipswichians all-rounder is a certainty to make the final team and play his first game at Lord’s on Monday when Suffolk take on Cheshire in the final of the Minor Counties Championship Knock-Out Trophy.
And looking ahead the 25-year-old, who has captained English Universities and made his Suffolk debut in 1999, says he wants to lead his home county one day.
Born and educated in Ipswich , Swallow said: “I am not writing off current skipper Phil Caley by any means, and long may he continue. He has massive respect from the players.
“But I would love the chance to captain Suffolk at some stage.”
Caley, 44, has decided to carry on in 2008. He has had a chat with Suffolk chairman Norman Atkins and agreed to continue.
Atkins said: “I had a long chat with Phil and it is all settled. I invited him to stay on, and he has agreed.
“He continues to do a wonderful job, and it would be the icing on the cake if he was to win the Knock Out Trophy at Lord’s.
“Phil deserves to lead Suffolk out at Lord’s - and to lift the trophy.”
Caley made his debut in 1982 and took over the captaincy in 1994.
Swallow would appear to be the best replacement when Caley does call it a day, and he added: “I am not sure what Paul King thinks as he is also an Ipswich lad and has been in the Suffolk team longer than me.
“But playing for Suffolk makes me proud and I still wear the same county sweater I was handed ten years ago.
“It has been stitched and sewn, but I don’t plan to part with it for some while yet.”
The last time Suffolk played Cheshire , Swallow was left kicking his heels.
Originally selected for the 2005 Minor Counties play-off final at Ransomes he was controversially omitted from the side after the first day had been rained-off.
Ben France became available after his match for Derbyshire ended – and Swallow had to sit out the two days.
Although it was not easy to take at the time, that blow has long been forgotten and over the last two seasons Swallow has turned into a genuine all-rounder.
“I love playing for Suffolk , and have set my sights on playing at Minor County level,” added Swallow.
“And to this end playing at Lord’s in the KO Trophy is my FA Cup final.
“It is a dream come true, as we all want to play at Lord’s from an early age.
“I sat in the stands watching England play India recently with my brother Ian and he said ‘You lucky so and so getting the chance to play here’.
“Along with Phil and Paul I have been through the Suffolk process and have played for Suffolk at all age levels.
“I have had some lows, but plenty of highs. And they won’t come any higher than Monday.”
Swallow, who has played at Trent Bridge for Nottingham Trent University and at Chester-le-Street for English Universities, played a big part in Suffolk ’s semi-final win over Oxfordshire.
“It was an out of body experience,” he recalled.
In a low scoring game Swallow struck the only six of the match and followed that up with a sumptuous four through the c
overs in the same over to confirm a nerve-wracking three-wicket win.

CHRIS Schofield is backing Suffolk to defeat Cheshire in Monday's Minor Counties Knock-out Trophy final at Lord's.
And Schofield, whose form this season has seen him called up to England's squad for the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa next month, tipped wicketkeeper Chris Warn and all-rounder Chris Swallow to possibly one day follow him into the England set up.
Schofield played for Cheshire against Suffolk in the Minor Counties Championship play-off final in 2005 before joining Suffolk last season.
His performances for Suffolk subsequently earned him a one-year contract with first-class county Surrey, and his one-day form this season has been a revelation Schofield, who played for Suffolk in two of the group stage games earlier this season, is not available to play in the final as he will be turning out for Surrey on Sunday, but he does hope to put in an appearance at Lord's at some stage on the day.
Asked who he thinks will win Monday's showpiece occasion, Schofield said: "I'm afraid I'm going to have to say Suffolk . Sorry Cheshire .
"I played for Suffolk last year and a bit this year so I've got to go for them. I've not really seen a lot of Cheshire this season.
"I know they've got some strong players - lads that have played for Derbyshire. Nathan Dumelow's a good player, he's played first-class cricket for Derbyshire. Chris Bassano too - so they're good players.
"It'll be a good game, but I'll have to back Suffolk ."
Asked which Suffolk players spectators should keep an eye out for Schofield said: "You've got the likes of Tom Huggins, he's played for Northants and been very successful.
"Justin Bishop is a very good left-arm seamer. Those are just a couple to look out for, it'll be a good game."
And when asked if any of the younger Suffolk players could emulate him and make the step up one day to the England team, Schofield replied: "Yes, of course. Suffolk have a good 'keeper called Chris Warn and an off-spinner, Chris Swallow, who've both done alright.
"There's some decent players there but it comes down to if you've got the application to make the step up to first-class cricket. The final at Lord's will be a good test for them