Cricket: Gentle giant with a need for rhythm: Essex needed a bowler. They chose the highly recommended but relatively unknown Michael Kasprowicz. Glenn Moore reports

AFTER employing a series of household names in Allan Border, Mark Waugh and Salim Malik most Essex members were surprised when the county signed an overseas player whom they had not only not heard of but could barely pronounce.

Michael Kasprowicz, 22, uncapped, dropped from the Queensland side in the winter and possessor of an unhealthily high attendance record in the physio's room, is the deposed county champions' answer to their worst season since 1987. That, incidentally, was the last time their overseas player was a bowler - remember the South African Hugh Page? Not many do. He took 25 wickets and finished seventh in the Essex averages.

Not the most auspicious precedent but, with both Neil Foster and Derek Pringle retiring, Essex had little choice but sign on a bowler and, while some might ponder Kasprowicz's selection ahead of the Australian Test bowlers Paul Reiffel and Glen McGrath, several good judges believe Essex are on a winner.

Both Border and Dennis Lillee recommended Kasprowicz while Jeff Thomson, his Queensland coach, said: 'Kasper is a big kid with great potential, he moves the ball both ways, is fairly quick and has plenty of different deliveries. He just needs to put it together more consistently. He is no mug tailender either.'

Kasprowicz's main weapon is the fast outswinger, which is heavily dependent on a good rhythm. Essex members, impressed by his 6 for 61 haul which set up victory over Durham last week, have been further encouraged by his showing in his home Championship debut againt Kent this week.

Even before he broke John Stephenson's finger in the nets, some of his new team-mates were well-acquainted with his talents. Three years ago Kasprowicz toured here with Damien Martyn's Australian Under-19 team, taking 14 wickets at 19 in two 'Tests'. The current Essex trio - Robert Rollins, Ronnie Irani and Richard Pearson - were among the victims as well as John Crawley and Mark Lathwell.

By then he had already played two part-seasons of Sheffield Shield cricket, having become, as a 17-year-old in January 1990, the youngest Queensland player since Don Tallon had made his debut 56 years earlier. It was a tough start. Called out of school to bowl against the Test batsmen Graeme Wood, Tom Moody and Mike Veletta, he took 0 for 71 on his first day and, troubled by injury, managed 10 wickets at 73 each in his first three seasons. But in 1991/92, he stayed fit and became the youngest bowler to take 50 first-class wickets in Australian history, narrowly missing an Ashes tour place.

Yet last year he took 20 wickets at 42 and was dropped. Once again injuries were the problem and Essex were sufficiently concerned to put him through a series of tests. The results were good. 'Structurally I have a very strong back,' he said. 'He has had some injuries but he has only had a short bowling career; Essex are not taking a risk signing him,' Thomson added.

Bobby Simpson, the Australian manager, had discouraged bowlers playing in England because of the workload and Kasprowicz admits: 'I had a few reservations about playing here. Some players have found it hard to play day-in, day- out but they were mostly older; I'm only 22 and I respond to bowling. I don't mind bowling every day.'

'I am not worried about him going to England,' Thomson said. 'Rather than do him any harm it will help him learn the trade.'

Thomson is known to push his bowlers hard - quite ironic, points out Kasprowicz, 'considering his pre-season consisted of going marlin fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, then rocking up in time for the first match.'

Kasprowicz also spends much spare time angling, having given up rugby - he was an Australian Schools second row - after breaking his elbow at 18. One of several descendents of Australia's post-War wave of European emigrants to emerge in cricket (Mike Veletta, Tim Zoehrer, Jo Angel) Kasprowicz's father was Polish. However, he is very much an Aussie, no links having been maintained with the Polish community since his father left home when he was young, leaving Kasprowicz, who has two younger brothers, to assume early family responsibility.

When he began playing for Queensland his maturity, as a cricketer and individual, meant people forgot how young he was. 'It was only,' one Brisbane observer said, 'when he rang up to ask if he could bring his mum as his partner to the end-of-season dinner that it sunk in just how young he was.

'He is very well-rounded, a gentle-giant type with a demeanour reminiscent of Graham McKenzie. Thommo has had to work hard at making him more aggressive. At the end of the season Essex will remember him as a good fellow.'

But will they remember him as a good player? Will they ask him back? In Australia, this summer is seen as the chance for Kasprowicz to demonstrate he is tough enough, mentally and physically, to take that final step into the Australian side. 'He is one of those players people have always thought will play for Australia,' one journalist said, 'now they are just starting to wonder.'

(Photographs omitted)