Crawley hits back after misery year

Crawley's problems began when Jack Simmons, the former off-spinner and local folk hero, was elected chairman. As Lancashire struggled throughout last season, Crawley felt undermined by him.

"I found him irrational and autocratic, although he often hides behind other people. Our disagreements became personal. It became impossible for me to stay." By then he had learned Andrew Flintoff was earning more than him, even though Crawley had signed his contract on the basis that he would earn as much as the best-paid player at the club.

"What upset me was the feeling that I had been lied to," said Crawley.

"There was no chance I could stay. If you don't have trust, then you don't have any heart in what you're doing. I would have seriously considered giving up cricket rather than carry on with Lancashire. You can't be walked all over by an employer and treated without respect just because you signed a contract. You shouldn't be treated as a chattel signed into slavery."

"Have I made enemies? Maybe. I was standing up for a few principles which I believed in. I called into question the reputations of some high-ranking members at Lancashire. I learned that when you do that - especially to older people - they get very angry."

Meantime, Crawley's wife Kate was expecting their first child, now 15 weeks old. Together they agreed to risk their entire financial future. That was what leaving Lancashire meant, because the summer of 2003 would have brought him a benefit worth £300,000. Moreover, the frightening legal bills were snowballing.

"Kate's been brilliant," said Crawley. "That was the biggest worry of all. The only thing that would have stopped me doing all this was if it had affected her health. But she supported me all the way. She didn't believe anyone should have to put up with that kind of rubbish."

Crawley expected to win the case, although he understood it would be difficult to prove serious or persistent breach of contract. But the ECB found in Lancashire's favour, although they criticised the club's lack of skill and sensitivity.

So was it really worth it? Was it wise to make the grand gesture, with a child on the way? Many people put up with much worse to pay the bills. Can Crawley honestly say, hand on heart, that this was not just a case of wounded pride?

"If it was just about being sacked as captain, it would be absolute stupidity," he said. "My wife was very happy in the north and we planned to make our future there. Most importantly a cricketer has one chance to make some serious money which is his benefit match. God, it would have to be very silly or very stubborn if it was just wounded pride."

Then he smiled suddenly and said: "But it's all behind me now."

It is, too. That knock against Kent was more than even he could have hoped for - this the man who has declared his target to make a century in every outing for Hampshire. He has one other ambition - to add to his 29 England appearances, the last of which was three years ago. His strength of purpose must surely help him attain that goal.

"If I had stayed at Lancashire and played with no heart, I would have been sacrificing any chance of an England recall," he said. "Now I'm playing with full passion again, I can realise my ultimate dream."