RAMSBOTTOM'S in-form professional Brad Hodge has his sights set on helping his club to cup glory, as well as forcing his way into the all-powerful Australian set-up.

Here he speaks to Lancashire Evening Telegraph reporter, Pete Oliver.

"I always thought we would start to climb the league now we are a bit stronger.

We've got Nick Riley back into the side and the guy can play. Anyone who attacks the ball like he can is a dangerous player. He got a 50 last weekend and he's going to be a big player for us in the cup games.

It's a shame we've stumbled around the bottom of the table for a while but I think we'll finish around fourth or fifth by the end of the year. We've got a couple of big games coming up in the cup and if we win one of them I presume everyone will be happy.

I've got over 1,000 runs in the league and cup but I haven't thought about beating last year's figures. I thought at first it was going to be a struggle because the conditions were tough but if you get a couple of good scores anything can happen and I'm happy with the way I've played over the last couple of weeks.

It's a brilliant club. I couldn't ask to be in a better place. I enjoy people's company and I like everyone down there. I like the ground and everyone's very warm, everything except the weather.

But I don't think I'll be back next year or the year after that. I think I'll be staying at home because it's an important time in my career to press for higher honours.

I'm not putting any extra pressure on myself but last year I had a good summer in Melbourne and I strongly believe I'm not too far away (from the Australian side) if I have another successful year.

I might need a stroke of luck and my entry might be through the one-day side. I believe I will be playing one-day cricket for Australia. It might not be straight away but when the Waughs hang it up there might be a place for me.

Australia were very impressive when they had their tails up at Edgbaston but England can have a chance if they take their catches. Stewart missed Damian Martyn and Adam Gilchrist was dropped when he had 20. You can't give someone like Gilchrist too many chances and if England had taken their catches the lead would only have been 100.

That's the difference and is why Australia beat them. Australia also know that somewhere round the corner there will be a wicket when they need one and they will always have that opportunity when they have those sort of bowlers.

I would really have liked to have seen Pat Rafter win at Wimbledon, although it was a good story for Goran.

I'm not really into the rugby. I prefer Australian Rules Football. My team is Northern Demons, who are lingering around near the bottom of the table.

But I hear all about the Lions when I walk into the changing rooms on a Saturday so I was pumped up last weekend when I heard that we had won to level the series ahead of the decider. "