A MONTH ago, Andrew McGarry was running his military medal auction business and preparing for a season in minor counties cricket with Suffolk.

Last week, the former South East Essex College student was running in to bowl in the County Championship for the first time in more than three-and-a-half years.

And, having made a solid return to the county scene, the 25-year-old seamer is eyeing a spectacular comeback to first class cricket with his native Essex.

An injury crisis at the Ford County Ground meant a call-up for the Basildon-born bowler - who had been working on his fitness with the Essex squad - three seasons after he was initially released by the county.

Having impressed in three pre-season matches, during which he took the wicket of Worcestershire's Australia Test batsman Phil Jaques, McGarry earned a place in the team for Essex's LV County Championship clash with Glamorgan.

Although he did not take a wicket, McGarry bowled economically in Essex's innings and seven runs win, and is now hoping for another chance to impress.

"I came to Essex in pre-season to work on my fitness to play for Suffolk, and also to help Essex because they are always short of pre-season net bowlers," he said.

"I didn't really think too much about the chance of playing for Essex again, even when I was called-up to play for the first XI, because then you start putting pressure on yourself.

"Now I've been given that opportunity, I'm just taking it for what it is and am grateful for it. I hope to do well and get another game and then to well in that one, but you can't look too far ahead."

Aside from playing for Suffolk and coaching young cricketers across Essex and Hertfordshire, McGarry also has his "fingers in several pies", running his own military medal auction business and also investing in a bus company.

"I bet I am the only county cricketer who can tell the difference between a Victoria Cross and a George Cross," he joked.

"Hopefully I can get a different sort of medal by winning something with Essex."

Regardless of whether or not his comeback is a long-term one, McGarry was happy to be given another chance to rub shoulders with the county's finest.

"I was made to feel very welcome. The atmosphere in the dressing room is really good and really positive," he added.

"Essex have built a team that can challenge in every competition, and hopefully we'll do that this season."