It is two-and-a-half years since the 39-year-old Shaun Udal played his fourth and last Test for England, 16 months since he was dropped from Hampshire's Twenty20 side, 13 months since he was released by the county and a year since John Emburey, then the Middlesex coach, started ringing him in a bid to persuade him out of retirement.

It is also three months since another pivotal four overs of off spin helped Middlesex to win the Twenty20 Cup and 11 days until he captains the county in Antigua with the largest total of prize-money - $400,000 (about £231,000) - on offer for an English county for one match.

Middlesex leave for Antigua on Sunday and on Monday week they face Trinidad & Tobago, the winners of the Stanford 20/20 in the West Indies, in what is billed as the Domestic Champions Final. It is dwarfed by the $20million that is at stake for the England and Stanford Superstars match on November 1, but Middlesex have the opportunity and the calibre to embarrass England or the Superstars in their “warm-up” matches.

“There is one game that we're going out there for, which is the Trinidad & Tobago game,” Udal said. But when pushed, he admitted that not only does he believe Middlesex could beat England but also feels that he could still represent his country.

“I firmly believe I could go into that side and do well in Twenty20 cricket, but Graeme Swann is a fantastically talented cricketer who deserves a chance and Samit Patel has started brilliantly,” Udal said. “It's not going to happen unless there's a funny bug that hits Graeme Swann. I might just slip something in his food.”

In another world, Udal would have just finished a season as team professional with Henley and Berkshire. “It's amazing to get a second chance,” he said with a touch of disbelief as he relaxed at home in Basingstoke, Hampshire. “I legitimately wasn't sure anyone would want a 39-year-old off spinner and do you want the embarrassment of putting your name around if no one is interested.

“Billy Godleman made me laugh in the pre-season, it was my birthday and he said, 'How old are you?' I said, '39' and he started wetting himself laughing. I said, 'Oi, youngster, show some respect' and he said, 'No, Shaggy [Udal], I've just realised my Dad is two years younger than you.'

“I'd love to carry on playing for Middlesex for two, three, four more years. I'm talking to Middlesex about extending my contract into 2010. That would be my fourth decade in first-class cricket. I would love to continue [as captain] after the winter and as a captain I think I could make a 5 per cent difference to the team performance.”

One of the key things he will be doing will be keeping players focused over the next few months. Between December 3 to 10, Udal will lead Middlesex in the $6million Champions League in India.

“If we go out worrying about the money, it will affect everything we've done,” Udal said. “We are meeting at Gatwick on Saturday night before flying and there's bound to be chat, but I don't want to hear it in Antigua. That was one of the beauties under Ed Joyce's leadership in the Twenty20 Cup semi-finals and final - we really didn't talk about it.”

With Joyce not committing his future to the club (Sussex are the new favourites to sign him among many suitors) and results on the slide through August, Udal was made captain on September 2.

He was Middlesex's third captain of the season after Ed Smith fractured an ankle in June. Smith was relieved of the captaincy for next season and Udal, after a strong final month, has the support of powerful figures on the committee and in the dressing-room.

Series schedule

All matches to be played at the Stanford Cricket Ground in Coolidge, Antigua. 9.30pm start unless stated

Saturday, October 25
Stanford Superstars v Trinidad & Tobago (11.30pm)

Sunday 26
England v Middlesex

Monday 27
Trinidad & Tobago v Middlesex

Tuesday 28
England v Trinidad & Tobago

Thursday 30
Stanford Superstars v Middlesex

Saturday, November 1
Stanford Superstars v England