Johnson glad to be hitched to England

Richard Johnson is determined to make the most of his latest opportunity to establish himself in England's Test line-up after sacrificing his honeymoon to join the tour of Bangladesh.

As reported in late editions of yesterday's Standard Sport, the Somerset fast bowler has been named as a replacement for Lancashire seamer James Anderson, who has withdrawn from the Test part of the forthcoming tour after sustaining knee trouble.

And instead of concentrating fully on his wedding this weekend, Johnson will also be making preparations for flying out to Dhaka.

Less than a week before his wedding to fiancee Nicky, which was to be followed by a honeymoon in Mauritius, Johnson's plans had to be quickly changed when the selectors informed him he had been chosen to join the 15-man party.

It is an indication of his eagerness to succeed at the top level, particularly after a knee injury sidelined him after his man-ofthematch display on his Test debut against Zimbabwe at Chester-le-Street earlier this summer.

"We are going to have to put the honeymoon back now," confirmed Johnson.

"We get married this weekend and I fly out on Wednesday, so we are only going to get a couple of days together before I go.

"You don't get called up by England every day and I need to take every opportunity that comes along.

"It is hard on my other half because this has happened only a week before we were getting married and going away, but she understands and she is very supportive."

Johnson was first called up for England's 1995-6 tour of South Africa only for a back problem to force his withdrawal and although he was selected for the trip to India two winters ago - this time as a replacement for Andrew Caddick after he refused to go on security grounds - he failed to make the breakthrough.

He had to wait until this summer before finally making his Test debut, claiming six wickets in Durham only for his knee injury to flare up again.

By the time he had recovered, other bowlers had broken through to take his place, like Sussex's James Kirtley and Surrey veteran Martin Bicknell.

"It is another opportunity for me and at 28 I need to grab any that come along for England," he stressed.

"It was frustrating for me getting the injury last season when I did and then not making it back for the South African series, so I have to try and take the opportunities when they come along.

"Unfortunately, when you get injuries and you don't play it gives other people a chance. And they came in and took them. But there has been an injury to someone else now and it is my chance to make sure I make the most of it.

"It was frustrating not being able to play in the Test series against South Africa this summer after making such a good start at Durham, but I feel that I have a lot to offer in Test cricket.

"I will be doing everything I can to make an impact in Bangladesh."