I'm England's best, claims Caddick

These are bold words coming from someone who has not played a Test for 16 months and who spent much of the winter flat on his back suffering from a prolapsed disc. But Caddick, who was forced to take morphine to numb the pain, has never shrunk with the violets and believes he is now fit enough to plot an international return.

Caddick said: "I'm still the best bowler in the country as far as I'm concerned and am fitter than ever. I've got 15 years' cricketing experience and 10 at Test level, whereas the boys playing at the moment are at the start of their careers. They've got a lot to learn and have a lot of cricket ahead of them.

"When I'm on song and firing on all cylinders, I'm the best there is. There's no one in England who can match my figures and I hope to use that experience to get back into the squad. That's a realistic goal and I should be able to achieve it. I don't think I'm an old hand and it'd be nice to get to the 300-wicket mark."

In fairness to Caddick, it is difficult to argue with his record. Despite being written off as a temperamental loner early in his career, the New Zealand-born paceman matured through his 20s to form a highly effective new-ball partnership with Darren Gough, taking 234 wickets in 62 Tests.

Gough's retirement from Test cricket because of a knee injury and his own back problems that wiped out last season have allowed a younger generation to take centre stage. But Caddick is waiting eagerly in the wings.

Harmison captured the public's imagination with 23 wickets in the Caribbean, but 35-year-old Caddick has some words of warning for a bowler who has been touted as England's best since Bob Willis.

Having himself enjoyed widespread acclaim after inspiring England to successive series wins over the West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Caddick knows what it's like to be flavour of the month.

He said: "People build him up as the best thing since sliced bread but if anything goes wrong, if he falls apart, they'll nail the poor bugger. Don't get me wrong, Harmy's done well but he's still got a lot to learn.

"It's taken him a while to believe he can be a match-winning bowler and has some flat wickets around the world to prove himself on. He's done well on bowler-friendly wickets but the wicket in the final Test at Antigua is generally what you get around the world. He's done very well but has a lot of learning to do."

After completing his second Championship match for Somerset against Essex at Chelmsford this week, Caddick has another opportunity to impress in the Black Caps' first match against a Professional Cricketers Association XI in the first match of the Taylor Wessing Masters Series at Shenley Cricket Centre on Sunday. Having grown up in New Zealand, he is good friends with many of the Black Caps and is expecting a close-fought series.

Caddick said: "New Zealand are a very good side and won't be a pushover like the West Indies. They've got some serious players and it'll be a very tough contest. If Shane Bond's firing on all cylinders he'll be very dangerous and Stephen Fleming is always a thorn in England's side. He's one of the best captains in the world and will make life very difficult for England.

"I was born and bred there but there's no animosity because I decided to go my own way. Kiwis aren't like Aussies and like to see New Zealanders do well wherever they end up. Aussies will call you a traitor every day of the week."

With the triumphant quartet of Harmison, Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Flintoff likely to start the First Test at Lord's on 20 May, Caddick has more realistic expectations of facing the West Indies later in the summer.

But he will not sulk in the shires if he fails. Having signed a new fouryear contract at Somerset, he is a big supporter of county cricket but would make one change - longer lunches.

He added: "I'm committed to Somerset for the next four years and may squeeze another year out of them when I'm 40. The structure is still slightly wrong but the powers that be aren't going to change that and don't listen to the players.

"I would reduce the number of overs to 97 each day and have 50 minutes for lunch and half an hour for tea. If you're expecting cricketers to play four days a week, they should have proper rest.

People in the general workforce are entitled to hourly breaks and it should be the same for cricketers."