Eight years after retiring at first-class level, David Ward, the former Surrey batsman, is relishing life as captain of Hertfordshire and head of cricket at Whitgift School, where his old county enjoyed a successful festival over the past week. Ward, 43, said:"After being in a lively Surrey dressing room for 12 years, I was fortunate to fall on my feet and play for Hertfordshire for the past eight seasons.

"I needed an ongoing competitive edge after leaving Surrey and found it. The minor counties game is a good level and I am enjoying watching - and hopefully helping with - the development of youngsters."

Ward enthused over three emerging players in his team, who have a mid-table position in the eastern division and have a final championship match this season against Northumberland at Jesmond starting on Sunday (August 22).

"I am especially impressed with Nick Lamb, an opening batsman, and Tommy Jenkins, a wicketkeeper, who are both 18, and Paul Barker, a slow left-arm bowler, who is a year younger," he said.

Lamb is the son of Tim, the ECB chief executive, and has had trials with the second teams of Worcestershire and Middlesex. Ward continued: "Jenkins stands up to all our bowlers and is just as comfortable batting No 3 as he is lower in the order, while Barker took ten wickets in our recent match against Cambridgeshire."

Ben Frazer, a 23-year-old all-rounder, and Stephen Lowe, a left-handed batsman, have also impressed Ward, who plans to bat on for two more seasons, having made 17 championship hundreds for Hertfordshire, including two in succession this summer. He has made 4,722 runs in the competition at an average of almost 60, credentials alongside his knowledge and affable nature that have won respect from his young team.