Glamorgan's Dean Cosker was selected as twelfth man for the first Investec Ashes Test Match in Cardiff at the start of the month, here he reflects on the opportunity to play for England at his home ground.
There's been no shortage of excitement in the series so far and what a contrast there was in the results of the first two Tests said Dean.
As I speak, England are in a great position in the third Test at Edgbaston and look like they are going to go 2-1 up which shows a lot of character after the heavy defeat at Lord's.
£The first Test was played at my home ground in Cardiff and obviously it was huge for the club to host such a high-profile event. We did the same in 2009 and it's such a boost for the region to stage international cricket.
We are trying to do all we can to get youngsters into the game and there are some great schemes such as 'Chance to Shine', but the best way to encourage them is get them down to the ground and actually watching the game.
I was asked to be England's 12th man in the first Test which was a great honour. I've done it before at Old Trafford and Lord's, but never on my home ground so it was quite humbling. I got a pleasant ovation whenever I came onto the field and it's good to know I'm still regarded as one of the best fielders at the club! To be fair, there weren't nerves - I think I'm too old now at 37 to feel nervous just coming onto the field - I was when I first did it in 2000, but not this time.
It was a great experience to be inside the dressing room and they seem like a good set of lads - quite relaxed off the field but very focused on it. You need the right atmosphere within the group for it to be like that and that is obviously being created by coach Trevor Bayliss and his assistant Paul Farbrace, plus I think Alastair Cook is a very level-headed captain so it was impressive to see how they went about things.
For more on Dean Cosker's season so far with Glamorgan and his sporting efforts off the cricket field please read more at
Sporting Life's feature