IT'S always good to have friends in high places, and even better when, for most of the year, you are the one barking the orders at the mighty writes Richard Mulligan

That is the luxurious position which Leigh-born and Essex captain Ronnie Irani finds himself in, as the only guy in cricket who can boss county team-mate and England skipper Nasser Hussain around.

Ronnie's influence over Hussain has done him no harm recently, as the all-rounder, brought up in Smithills, found himself back from the England wilderness this summer, some five years since his last one-day international.

Having said all that, when you've had a season like Ronnie has had you shouldn't need anyone else. So when the selectors gathered before the Triangular series with India and Sri Lanka in June, ...

"I'd had a good season up to that point, and although England wasn't at the forefront of my mind, I was playing my best cricket for a long time," recalls Ronnie.

"On the day that the selection meeting had taken place I was having a chat with Nasser and he was winding me up about an Essex game that was coming up. But then he broke the news to me that I wouldn't be taking part in that game as we would be travelling to Lords with England together.

"Of course it's great to have a close friend like Nasser as England captain, but he told me that five selectors decided on the issue, and in the end his own vote wasn't needed."

Ronnie certainly took full advantage of his return to the international scene with a magnificent series of performances for his country, which included an outstanding performance against India at The Oval, as he top-scored with 53 and bagged five wickets.

Therefore it was no surprise when he was named as part of the 14-man England squad that will take part in the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka next month - a chance to stake his claims for the 2003 World Cup.

"It has been an unbelievable opportunity for me after so long away from the international scene," says Ronnie. "Some might have seen the achievement as just making the England squad again, but I saw that as only being the beginning of a journey.

"After five years away I knew I had to really get in there and nail the chance.

"International cricket is tough. Coming up against the Indians and Sri Lanka you know that you will be facing tremendous spin bowling, and some pace. There are few opportunities to rest, concentration has to be there all the time.

"That's true with the ball as well. You really can't afford a loose delivery because you will be hit for a four or six.

"But I must have been doing something right because I was awarded the Fans' Player of the Tournament. Now everyone seems to want to talk to me about making the World Cup squad, but I'm trying not to think about that too much because there is a lot to do between then and now for Essex.

"I have to show that I can keep on improving and not rest on my laurels despite my recent success. I certainly haven't booked my place already, but I'm sure I'll remain in the thoughts of the selectors."

Irani, born in Leigh in October 1971, enjoyed spells in Bolton cricket with Heaton and Eagley, and was signed up by Lancashire as a 16-year-old.

But he made a big decision to head south a decade ago due to a lack of opportunity with his home county, who were the strongest one-day side in the country at the time.

"Coming from Lancashire it was great to be with them, but at some stage you have to put your career first," he says. "I really needed to be playing. Although I was still young I did not want to get left behind."

He added: "Essex got in touch with me, but to be honest at that time I didn't even know where it was. But I said 'yes', they really wanted me and the chance of working with Graham Gooch was fabulous for me.

"Graham has been a massive influence upon me.

"He is an absolute legend in world cricket, and is a fabulous coach from a technical point of view.

"But most importantly, Graham and Keith Fletcher have been an inspiration to me, helping out with a quiet word here and there to keep me on track."

Although now over 30-years-old - a watermark for any sportsman - it seems that learning is not something Irani believes should end when you out-grow your school uniform.

Hussain comments: "Ronnie is very good at getting 'the knowledge'. He will ring up anyone who he thinks can help and try to get more.

"He thought he could do better as Essex captain in dealing with other players, so last winter he got the club to send him on a man-management course."

Irani's constant desire to improve is paying dividends at the moment, and even if he does not want to talk about it yet, an Ashes tour and next year's World Cup are looking a distinct possibility.