Bearing up well

County Diary 24 June

Just months ago Stuart Eustace was grinning and bearing it as the Warwickshire mascot Carmen the Bear.

Stuart Eustace was the man behind Carmen the Bear

But now he has gone from playing the fool to playing in the first team.

The wicket-keeper was given his chance to play in the Twenty20 Cup after Keith Piper's drugs ban and an injury to Tony Frost.

So he has binned his mascot outfit - for now.

The 26-year-old told BBC Sport: "I agreed to be Carmen in order to get tickets for a big match.

"But it was the hottest day of the year and I was sweltering. I also had to endure fans urging me to lift Carmen's skirt up!"

But that was last season. This year Eustace is intending on making the most of being a player.

He said: "I've been involved with Warwickshire since I was 11 so it's great to be given the chance in the first team.

"I've taken a sabbatical from work and got a contract with the Bears until the end of the season."

He played in the opening Twenty20 match against Worcestershire but the Bears lost by a single run.

"I obviously thought I was going to be playing club cricket for Dunstall this season.

"It was a sell-out too and I was nervous in front of 8,000 fans and the way I batted I wished I could've hid behind Carmen!"

BUTCHER'S MOMENT OF MADNESS

Twenty20 is revolutionising the game of cricket as we know it but the rules remain the same, as Mark Butcher found out during a recent TV commentary stint.

Butcher, whose wrist injury will keep him out of action until at least August, is spending his extra free time behind the mic, but got a little carried away.

Defending champions Leicestershire had just lost captain HD Ackerman to a run out and seen Darren Maddy bowled next ball.

Caught up in the moment, Butcher declared bowler Greg Smith to be going for the hat-trick - something never before achieved in the Twenty20 Cup - as he steamed in at Grace Road.

There was a long pause.

"Obviously I don't know as much about the game as I thought I did," he admitted.

SOMERSET SP-EGG-TACULAR

Taxis, whirlpool baths and even tropical beaches adorn county boundary ropes during the Twenty20 silly season.

But Taunton will only be half as egg-citing during Monday's game against Glamorgan unless a thief is tracked down.

Sponsors Blackacre Farm Eggs had placed the two giant eggs on the boundary edge and promised to give £500 to charity on behalf of the first player to hit one of them.

Despite some big hitting during Somerset's Twenty20 victory over Worcestershire on Thursday night, both remained intact.

But when the ground reopened the following morning one of the eggs was missing.

Suspects include all the King's horses and all the King's men but anyone with more information should contact the club.

Reporting by Anna Thompson