Udal ready for winter riches

Shaun Udal is poised to shelve plans to spend his winter as a salesman to take part in lucrative trips to the Champions League and Antigua following his role in Middlesex's stunning Twenty20 Cup success.

The 39-year-old former England off-spinner played a key role as Middlesex overcame Durham and holders Kent at the Rose Bowl yesterday to claim the county's first major triumph in 15 years and put them on course to join the Twenty20 financial bonanza.

Their three-run triumph over Kent ensured they will fly to Antigua at the end of October to play a series of challenge Twenty20 matches against Trinidad and Tobago, the West Indies' Twenty20 champions, and England with Texan billionaire Sir Allen Stanford promising thousands of pounds if Middlesex are successful.

Prior to that there is the prospect of joining Kent in the Champions League with a prospective £2.5million on offer for the successful team.

Those lucrative commitments have forced Udal to change his plans for this winter, when he was planning to sell cricket helmets and become an after-dinner speaker.

"I have shares in a company making cricket helmets and I was going to be working for them selling helmets to clubs and shops and doing a bit of after-dinner speaking," admitted Udal, who conceded less than five runs an over during his eight overs on finals day.

"That was the aim but that's all been put on the back burner now and we'll be having a week on a beach in Antigua which sounds great, even with my legs!

"I've got next year with Middlesex as well and who knows what the future holds - I could be the oldest IPL cricketer if anyone is interested."

Shaun Udal bowled miserly spells in this year's Twenty20 Cup, including 1-18 in the final

Udal's role in yesterday's triumph, bowling a miserly spell of 1-18 from four overs in the final as Kent reached 184 for five in reply to Middlesex's 187 for six, was all the more remarkable considering he had officially retired at the end of last season.

After 21 years with Hampshire, Udal, who wrongly believed Shane Warne was returning this summer and there would not be enough room for two spinners, decided to retire and was considering other options.

But Middlesex got in touch and he agreed a two-year contract. He has been rewarded for his change of heart by helping his new county claim their first major trophy since winning the county championship in 1993.

"Everything has gone well for me at Middlesex and this was just the icing on the cake," enthused Udal. "I can't wait for the winter now, a couple of trips planned now - it's a dream come true.

"I didn't think I'd be playing for two-and-a-half pence let alone two and a half million quid a year ago, but I think it will sink in when you see the papers and see your name in lights.

"The ironic part is to come back to the Rose Bowl and the county where I played for 21 years to win this trophy - I suppose it was written in the stars."

He revealed: "I was released from the club (Hampshire) and I didn't think anyone else would want me so I reluctantly retired, but before I knew it two or three counties were on the phone and I started to think about whether I should hang my boots up or not.

"I was waking up every morning wondering whether I'd done the right thing to retire so I thought about it, spoke to my family and decided I wanted to carry on with Middlesex, which was the closest county to my home.

"It's been a great thing for me and given me a new lease of life. I had to prove myself to new people, new players, new cricketers and a new club and I just can't believe how well it's gone."

Udal has a history of finishing in style, however, having taken 4-14 to help England beat India in Mumbai on his fourth and last Test appearance two years ago.

He has slipped out of the international reckoning since, but is welcoming the chance to test himself again against England's Twenty20 side in Antigua later this year.

"It's going to be bizarre playing against England," admitted Udal. "We've got a week in Antigua and we're going to make sure we enjoy ourselves to the limit and also play some good cricket because we're the Twenty20 champions of England and we want to prove ourselves against other sides around the world.