Ben ready to follow familiar way to top

High hopes: Ben Hutton

Ben Hutton is better known for his famous surname and the identity of his best pal than his own achievements on the cricket field. Grandson of Sir Len, son of England all-rounder Richard and best man of Andrew Strauss, the labels roll off the tongue effortlessly.

Born in Johannesburg (in the same hospital as Strauss), brought to England as a toddler, educated at Radley College and Durham University, Hutton's path to the Middlesex team also uncannily mirrors that of England's latest Test sensation.

Like his fellow 28-year-old, Hutton is also a left-handed opener and over the winter he succeeded him as Middlesex captain when it became clear Strauss's England colleagues would be seeing far more of him than his old mates at Lord's.

It would be surely asking too much for the articulate, easy-going Hutton to make the hardest step of all - follow Strauss, his father and grandfather into the national team.

But he said: "I've got aspirations to move on to the next level. I feel as if my game has come together over the last few years but it's a case of dominating at county level first.

"I've set myself a number of goals this season. I made five hundreds last year, but didn't take it on and get the big scores that hurt the opposition. I want to try to be recognised as a match-winning player."

Judging by his stats, Hutton has some way to go before the England selectors furiously hunt for his mobile number (his first-class average is a merely respectable 32.96) yet he blossomed when he was promoted to open last summer.

"It's only when you're in your late 20s that you learn about your game," said Hutton. "The more exposed you are to the county game, the better.

"These guys who are fast-tracked into the Test side and who have not had that much experience, leave themselves wide open. If you have been around, you have something to fall back on."

Hutton has more to fall back on than most. Playing with former internationals in the back garden, it is no surprise to hear that cricket was "ingrained in me as a young boy" and his game was then honed at Radley College where, he admitted, "We had the best facilities you can imagine".

The famous surname (Sir Len died when he was 13) has a downside.

"There was a degree of expectation when I was younger," he said. "It is something you get used to the more you play and it becomes less of an issue. As you have more success, you form more of an identity.

"It is nice hearing people come up to me and say they remember my grandfather and what a great ambassador for the game he was. He and my father are such an inspiration for me and I have a lot of respect for their achievements. But it is history now and has no bearing on what goes on now."

If the Middlesex skipper is also tired of answering questions about Strauss, which he has had to do endlessly over the last year, he makes a good fist of hiding it.

Hutton said: "It hasn't surprised me how well he has done. He has taken his chance better than anyone and has earned the respect of players around the world. This summer is going to be a big one for him. I am sure he won't have any difficulties. He is one of those guys constantly striving to improve his game. Now he is completely settled in the side, he will only go from strength to strength."

So what makes Strauss so good? "He takes his game to the opposition, which you have to do in Test cricket," said Hutton. "He has good shots he plays really well - the cut, and the pull - and he has a drive to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

"He is always scoring so never feels under pressure. That state of mind only comes from years of working on your game. He has learned that in county cricket."

Has it made him cocky, even a little bit? "No," replied Hutton. "It hasn't gone to his head at all. He is the same old, normal Andrew Strauss - he just has more demands on his time."

Following Strauss's England call-up, the Middlesex captaincy was up for grabs and, after designated vice-captain Owais Shah and Ed Joyce passed on the baton following varying degrees of success, Hutton took over last August.

"It wasn't something I aspired to, although I felt very honoured and privileged," he admitted. "But I enjoyed the stint at the end of the summer and it seemed to have a good effect on my game. I scored fairly well and we had some decent results.

"It helped give me the bigger picture and not just concentrate on my own game. I'm a very ambitious person and desperate for this club to do well."

The Middlesex players are confident this could be their year.

There can be few stronger batting line-ups on the county circuit than Strauss, Hutton, Ed Smith, Shah, Joyce, Paul Weekes and new overseas signing Scott Styris, while Nantie Hayward spearheads a decent seam attack.

"Although far from the finished article, we should be pushing for honours," said Hutton. "The side is the strongest since I've been here."

Hutton prepared for the new season as he has for the past three years, working in the City during the winter for insurance brokers RP Hodson.

"It's nice to see a different side of life," he said. "It makes you appreciate there is more to life than cricket and has made me less intense on the field."

Sir Len, the earthy Yorkshireman, would have been proud.

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