HE couldn’t find the run trail last Friday but Joe Clarke has again been making waves in first class cricket for club and country this year.

The former Llanfyllin High School pupil from Oswestry spoke to the County Times again last week about his season so far, and what the future is going to hold.

Last time we spoke to him, he had completed a memorable season for Worcestershire, becoming a key cog in their county championship machine, and had travelled to the middle east with England’s successful under 19 squad.

Nine months later, after a host of runs and an England Lions tour, Clarke is optimistic looking to the future after another stellar season so far in domestic cricket.

He said: “With England I am not looking at a full call up.

“I have done the England Lions stuff, and my priority is just scoring as many runs as a I can for Worcester.

“The Lions tour was amazing, to play alongside lads who have already played for the full side, and against players for Pakistan who have a lot of international experience.

“I want to play for and against the best players in the world, I am hungry to do it again, and hopefully with good performances England may come calling.

“The lads I was on tour with for the Lions have gone on to play for England and are doing well, that is how quickly it can happen.”

On the night at Old Trafford, it wasn’t to be for Clarke, whose Worcester side restricted struggling Lancashire, who won the T20 blast last year, to 149-5.

It seemed a reachable target, but the Rapids never made a move.

Clarke was out, caught at gully for 9, and they travelled back to New Road 53 all out, the lowest total by a T20 side at Old Trafford.

Clarke was upbeat though, saying things like this can happen in T20.

“It is one of those things, you can be out for any ball in T20.

“You are always looking to score, I played a shot I would have backed myself to hit for four, but it went straight to a fielder.

“We had an off day, and Lancashire are down the bottom, but shouldn’t be, they have class players and won it last season.

“We are still in a good position, and if we can get a few more wins, hopefully we can get to the quarter-finals, but our batting let us down tonight.”

Last week, Clarke hit 63, and put on a stand of 146 with Ed Barnard to save the game at Derbyshire, and he is now hoping to kick on in the long form of the game.

“At Derby I was due something in the red ball format, and with Barney I have played together for a long time, and was good to put in a good partnership.”