Hours of hard work training in the nets finally paid dividiends for Dominic Clapp when he made his full Sussex debut last week.

And one of the first things he did after being told he was going to make his debut was to get on the phone and thank Les Lenham, one of the men who have helped transform him from underachiever into a fully-fledged county cricketer.

It was a nice gesture by Clapp and one appreciated by Lenham who has been dispensing advice and technical assistance to Sussex batsmen at one time or another for years now.

During the winter Clapp spent hours in the indoor nets at Hove with Lenham, one of the best batting coaches around, trying to groove a technique which would stand up to scrutiny at first-class level.

Clapp said: "Before in my stance my head was dipping slightly at ball release.

"Now I'm much stiller and pick the length of the deliveries better.

"I worked quite closely with Les. As a result I feel I'm playing a lot straighter and I don't get so flustered anymore. I just make sure I stay out there and build an innings."

He played for the county's juniors at under-tens and went through the age group teams before joining the staff in 2000.

Coaches and team-mates have always admired his batting technique and Clapp acknowledges he can't blame anyone else for the fact that it's taken him over two years to finally get his chance.

'Hans', as he is nicknamed by his team-mates because of his Teutonic looks, returned from a winter playing club cricket in Australia in 2001 overweight and out of shape. He nearly stayed at home when the club went on their pre-season tour to Grenada as punishment for failing to adhere to Sussex's strict winter training programme.

Penance came in the form of hour-long runs in the Caribbean with fitness specialist Rob Harley before the rest of the squad were out of bed.

As well as improving his physical shape, Clapp was told by coach Peter Moores to work on fielding and his mental approach. Last season he averaged 30.78 in second team Championship matches and it was touch and go whether his contract would be renewed.

It was, for another year, and it was no surprise when Clapp chose Hove instead of the temptations Melbourne has to offer when he was making his plans for last winter.

He said: "I know I underachieved in my first two years on the staff. I looked at guys like Mike Yardy, Bas Zuiderent and Matt Prior getting their opportunity and I was itching for a chance as well but I realised I hadn't done enough.

"I knew there were lots of things in my game I had to improve. Basically during the winter I worked harder than I have ever done before. I've now got this opportunity and I want to give it a good crack."

The story might have had the perfect ending on Saturday when Clapp went out to bat on his 22nd birthday.

After looking comfortable against Leicestershire's experienced new-ball attack, he was out for six, caught at mid-wicket pulling a ball well outside off stump from Devon Malcolm which more experienced batsmen would probably have left alone.