PROLIFIC batsman Andy Williams is getting a second sniff of the county cricket scene at the age of 30.

And while one score years and ten is hardly over the hill in willow-wielding terms, his selection for Cumberland - and the chance to face some of the top players in the country - has come as quite a surprise to the Tottington-based physiotherapist.

A product of the successful Greenmount CC youth set-up, Williams swept all before him in a junior career that saw him skipper England at under-17 level, win caps with the under-19s, scoop numerous county youth honours as well as featuring in the Lancashire second eleven.

But after getting as good a grounding in the youth ranks as any player could hope for, a county career in county cricket never materialised and he went on to become a well-known figure as both an amateur and professional on the local league scene.

This season he's been plying his trade in the Ribblesdale League with Edenfield and it was the Gincroft Lane club's current professional, Martin Lewis - a Cumberland regular - who put his name forward to the county's selectors.

And Williams really seems to be finding his feet at Minor Counties level as last weekend he blasted a superb 105 against Buckinghamshire at Beaconsfield, putting on a stand of 120 with former Yorkshire ace Ashley Metcalfe.

Twenty-four-hours earlier he was among the runs for his club side hitting an unbeaten 118 as Edenfield saw off Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.

"It's brilliant to be back playing against some of the game's big names again," admitted Williams. "Only the other week in the C & G Trophy we played Kent and I got out to Mark Ealam after scoring 19.

"The strange thing is when I was young and doing well the opportunities didn't arise for me and all of a sudden it has.

"It's clearly a case of being in the right place at the right time but I'm thoroughly enjoying getting back into the three day game.

"As a batsman it allows you to play yourself in, something you can't always do in the one day game."

This week's game at Bucks ended in a draw as the rain forced an early finish with Williams unbeaten on one.

But opportunity doesn't always knock twice and Williams is keen to make sure he grabs his chance at the second time of asking.