Ilott bids for own cricket glory

Mark Ilott will be aiming to catch up with his father when he makes his debut in club cricket's premier knockout tournament this weekend.

The former Essex and England left-arm seam bowler, who will be 34 in August, spearheads the Potters Bar attack in their Evening Standard Challenge Trophy first-round tie at Uxbridge on Sunday.

Victory will earn the club a tilt at the holders, their near-neighbours Radlett, in round two of the 50-over event which features the London area's leading 108 teams.

Ilott, who won five Test caps in a 14-year Essex career, was born and raised in Watford, Hertfordshire, and has lived in the same road as the Potters Bar club for a decade.

Now Ilott's ambition is to help his local team battle through to the 2004 Challenge Trophy Final at Hertfordshire's Shenley Cricket Centre on 12 September.

He would then be following in the footsteps of his father, John, who appeared in the final six years ago.

John Ilott, a senior umpire on the club circuit, collected a medal for officiating in the 1998 final at The Oval between Teddington and Finchley.

There is more rivalry from Mark Ilott's family. His wife Sandra is vice-captain of Potters Bar ladies team while children James, seven, and Madeline, five, also love the game.

"We often play in the back garden," said Ilott.

Sunday's first round: Addiscombe v Sevenoaks Vine, Reigate P v Oxted, Epsom v Basingstoke, Linden Pk v Esher, Gravesend v Banstead, Brentham v Beaconsfield, Trojans v Acton, H Hempstead v O Actonians, Uxbridge v Potters Bar, Vale v Leyton Co, Harrow v Hertford, Welwyn v W'stow, Hornsey v S Hampstead, Normandy v Spencer, Lordswood v O Emanuel, Mitcham v Orpington, Barnet v Hampton W Royal, Wycombe Ho v BWIA Cavaliers, Bessborough v N Mymms, Loughton v Shep Bush, Southgate v Tring Pk, Saffron Walden v Winchmore Hill, Ashford (Middx) v Lambeth Enterprise, Worcester Pk v Sutton, St Albans v Hainault, O Mid-Whits v Bickley Pk, Aztecs v Ardleigh Green, S Woodford v Waltham.