Cricket: My best is yet to come - Troughton; HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS: Jim can't wait for season No.8 to start.

Byline: By Brian Halford

JIM Troughton is looking forward to the 2009 season - his eighth in Warwickshire's first team - with his hunger for the grind of county cricket totally undiminished.

And the left-hander feels that he has improved with every year in the senior Bears side - so his best seasons still lie ahead.

Troughton will be a key component in Warwickshire's top order next season, both in theirre - turn to First Division four-day cricket and as they attempt to start pulling out of a scrappy era in the oneday game.

Short of depth in their batting, the Bears will be saved a big headache if Troughton scores big runs.

Last season, after injury delayed his entry to the side, he scored 581 championship runs at 41.50 and, nailed down a regular spot at number three, with varying levels of success, in one-day cricket.

Highly talented, the 29-year-old undoubtedly is, but he has also been too vulnerable to loose shots early in his innings.

If Troughton is to finally shed his reputation as an enigma - as frustrating at times as he is thrilling to watch at others, he needs to string some productive seasons together as his career starts to turn into its home straight.

It is a challenge he cannot wait to address.

"Last season was a very enjoyable one for me," Troughton said.

"And that had an effect my overall game. It was brilliant batting up the order in one-day cricket and getting the chance to bat at No.3 in the Twenty20.

Being backed by the management in that format helped my all-round game.

"In four-day cricket I put in performances that were less characteristic of me over the years.

"I was spending more time at the crease, which is something I definitely want to keep working on next year.

"I still enjoy my cricket as much as ever. The hunger is always there. Everyone has the hunger to play for England, of course, but it is also deeply there for your county side, to excel as an individual and to help the team win things.

"This club is very much part of me. I have been in the Warwickshire XI since 2002 and somehow it means more as you get older and older. You realise more and more that winning trophies is important, especially to a club with a history like Warwickshire's."

And in 2009, Troughton aims to fully fulfil the responsibilities appropriate to the senior player that he now is.

"It has been a trend throughout my career that I have grown as a player and got better every year," he said.

"In my early days I was picked for England and that was a little bit early but every year since then I have improved and my game has become a little bit more rounded.

"The mental side has really clicked in for me. Last year was a good one for me and now I definitely see myself as a senior player, one of the guys helping BRING IT ON... Warwickshire's Jim Troughton. the side out when they are in trouble."