New sensation to make Nasser smile

Inevitably his performances this season have led to comparisons with Ian Botham, who also started on the Lord's groundstaff. The man himself is already aware of his burgeoning reputation. "I've heard about him and we need someone like that," said Botham.

Clarke is keen to return the compliment because Botham was his boyhood hero. "My dad bought a lot of videos of him, including one of the 1981 Ashes series, and I watched them countless times," said Clarke.

"He was an inspiring cricketer who could do everything and at the age of seven I wanted to be a Botham, playing for England. I first had a bat in my hand when I was four and I used to knock a rubber ball around in the living room. My mother wasn't too happy about it."

Asked if he can emulate the former England skipper, he is reassuringly positive. "Hopefully," he said. "But I'm working very hard to improve my game and my fitness. It's up to me.

"When I was in my early teens I was very skinny and outgrew my strength. I used to open the bowling and had problems with the left side of my back and a bone kept popping out. But I've been given a fitness programme and it's worked. I made a minor adjustment to my action.

"Two winters ago, Adam Hollioake got me to the Western Australian academy in Perth and I spent a lot of time getting fit. Last winter I was at the South African academy in Port Elizabeth."

Amazingly, it was footballer rather than cricketer who had the most telling impact on his life because he was christened Rikki after the former Tottenham and Argentina midfielder Ricky Villa. "My dad and I are Spurs fans. He loved Ricky Villa - although he was christened Riccardo, of course."

Clarke was born in Orsett, Essex, and grew up in Godalming, Surrey. Encouraged by his father, John, a medium-pace bowler with Godalming CC, he played for the club's third team at the age of seven and soon moved up the Surrey youth ranks. He joined Guildford and worked with the former England coach Stewart at the indoor school.

This season he broke into Surrey's first team, becoming a regular after hitting an unbeaten 153 against Somerset at Taunton. That was when people really started to notice.

He stands up straight, doesn't move his feet until the ball is on its way and plays with his head in line - a style at odds with the modern game. In many ways he is a throwback to a more classical age, with effortless technique and exquisite timing.

Last week at Guildford he struck 50 from only 17 scoring shots - three short of Surrey's record - striking three sixes with perfect technique rather than Bothamesque power.

Bicknell has been the major influence on his bowling. "He's always talking to me and I've learned so much about bowling," Clarke said. "But my bowling hero is Glenn McGrath."

Clarke shares McGrath's belief in length and line and bowls between 75-85 mph. Bicknell is among those who believe that given time he is capable of bowling even faster.

Dynamic batting, accurate, wicket-taking bowling ... and he is an outstanding all-round fielder, too.

No wonder his captain is impressed. Last week, Hollioake made a trip to the press tent to sing Clarke's praises: "You should give this fella a touch, he's special."

England's selectors are hoping that he is right.