HAMPSHIRE new boy Gareth ‘Batman’ Berg is taking inspiration from his favourite superhero as he prepares for his county comeback.

The former Middlesex all-rounder is on course play in Hampshire’s opening LV County Championship match after a year out with a freak shoulder infection.

Berg, who trained on The Ageas Bowl square for the first time yesterday, likened his comeback to that of Batman after signing for Hampshire last month, by tweeting:  “#13 #Batmanreturns #thedarkknightrises #comeback”

The 34 year-old, who has a Batman tattoo on his well-decorated left arm, explained: “In the past I’ve been a sort of dark knight, enjoying life and spending most of my time socialising and having a few drinks here and there.

“I enjoy the character in the movies and my son loves Batman too. I already had a tattoo of dice showing 6, 4, 6 - my last three shots as Middlesex won promotion in 2011 - and of a keyboard, which I taught myself a few years ago. But Batman is a bit different!

“I’ve also got a Batman logo on my cricket bat. And with the help of my friend’s company, Norfolk Cricket Bats, I’ve got a new one coming out for the T20.”

 


 

Berg had his Middlesex contract cancelled after the shoulder injury sustained last April became infected.

“It was an absolute nightmare, a one in 10,000 chance,” he explains. “Towards the end of the five ops the surgeons said there was a possibility of me not playing cricket again, which was a huge hammer blow.

“But I took it on the chin and fell back in love with the game by coaching kids.”
Berg reckons he is bowling “at 80 per cent” after a satisfactory week in Barbados. No doubt he will be keen to prove a point to Middlesex when they visit the Ageas Bowl from May 17-20.

“I was very comfortable with my previous employers and, who knows, if I’d played a few more years there I was probably in line for a benefit.

“But things happen for a reason and I’m loving every minute here.

“I’m probably a week away from full fitness in terms of running in and bowling as fast as I can.”

Berg, who lives in Oxshot, Surrey with his girlfriend, is effectively filling the all-rounder’s role vacated by Matt Coles.

“I like to think I’m more of a genuine all-rounder, I could bat in the top five or six if needed,” he says.

“It depends on structure of the team but I presume I’ll bat at seven or eight and be a first or second change bowler with the job to contain and get the odd wicket here and there.”

Berg is expected to play in Hampshire’s two-day pre-season friendly against Surrey at The Ageas Bowl this weekend.