Barnett back on big stage

Barnett lifts the B&H trophy for Derbyshire in 1993

If any cricketer can claim to have 'been there, seen that, bought the t-shirt', it is surely Gloucestershire batsman Kim Barnett.

Saturday's Benson and Hedges Cup game against Glamorgan will be his fourth successive appearance in a Lord's final and the seventh overall in a career which began with Derbyshire in 1979.

He also made the first of his four Test appearances at the home of cricket, scoring 66 and nought against Sri Lanka 12 summers ago.

Barnett will be 40 in July and is viewed as "one of the grandads of county cricket" by Gloucestershire coach John Bracewell, but he is not ready to be pensioned off.

Bowled in last season's NatWest final

"When I came, Gloucester targeted certain signings. They were already a pretty talented side, but there were one or two spots which needed improving.

"From my point of view, they wanted an exceptional batsman; from Ian Harvey's point of view, they were looking for a one-day all-rounder; and from Jeremy Snape's point of view, they got a bloke who can bat and bowl," said Barnett.

The three signings helped Gloucestershire achieve a notable double last season when they thrashed Yorkshire by 124 runs in the one-off B&H Super Cup final and then beat Somerset by 50 runs to lift the NatWest Trophy.

"We've got more confidence from the finals. People felt it was the kind of dressing room that had'nt got a lot of confidence and that has gradually grown and the players are beginning to believe they must be a good side because they keep winning matches," Barnett added.

Barnett lies third in the all-time run scorers list in the B&H Cup and can move above Mike Gatting's total of 2,920 if he scores 21 against Glamorgan.

The hair is long gone

Top spot is, however, out of reach, with Graham Gooch amassing an astonishing aggregate of 5,176 in the competition.

Records are not important, however, as Barnett continues to fill the job asked of him when he moved to Bristol after the 1998 season.

"We explained that part and parcel of his job would be to help the learning of the young, ambitious players. He's taken to that very well. He's using some of the vast knowledge he's picked up over the years and passing it on to some kids who want to listen to it.

"That helps them and it certainly helps Kim. If you can do a nice turn for somebody, then you feel a lot better in yourself," said Bracewell.

"He's one of the grandads of county cricket. It's good to have a grandad who's still functional, whom you get good stories from and get good, sound advice which he hands on readily."