RONNIE Irani finally made the step that has taken him from Bolton League cricket to an England place.

The former Eagley and Heaton player has been called up for Thursday's first limited overs Texaco Trophy game against India at The Oval.

And no-one is more delighted than his proud parents, Jimmy and Anne.

"We're thrilled to bits," his mother said today from their Bolton home. "The telephone has never stopped ringing, everyone seems to be pleased with the selection."

Irani left Lancashire three seasons ago for Essex simply, as the player himself put it, "because there were too many good players in the Lancashire side."

But his move to Essex has now brought him an England place and hopefully a step towards a Test spot.

"It was a wrench when he decided to go to Essex but it's all worked out well. He's worked hard and deserves his place," said his mother.

Today Irani and the other England newcomers could find themselves out of pocket before they pick up their first pay cheques as international cricketers.

For coach David Lloyd plans to make practice sessions more competitive than ever before - starting with tomorrow's pre-Texaco Trophy get-together at The Oval.

Irani, Alistair Brown and Mark Ealham will join some experienced hands preparing for Thursday's game.

But even older, wiser members of England's 13-man squad are likely to notice a few differences as Lloyd attempts to put his stamp on proceedings.

"We'll have some fun," promised the 49-year-old Lancastrian. "But it will be hard work and it might cost some of the lads a bit of money."

By that, Lloyd means players will compete against each other...and those dropping most catches or throwing wide of the stumps during fielding practice can expect to part with a few pounds.

Lighthearted stuff? Certainly, but with serious undertones as England seek to compete with the best in the world.

England teams over the past 10 years cannot be faulted for the amount of time they have spent practising. But watch Australians or, more recently, South Africans at work before a big match and it looks a different ball game - sharper and altogether more purposeful.

Lloyd cracks jokes and piles on the Accrington accent so heavily that most of his comments invite a smile.

There's no doubt, however, he means business when it comes to cricket which is just as well from a man who will be re-hired or fired on the results of four months' graft this summer.

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