NAME: Ian Billcliff

CLUB: Blackburn Northern

AGE: 23

NATIONALITY: New Zealander

HEIGHT: 5'11"

BATTING: Right hand

BEST BATTING: 148 not out against Barrow last season in North Lancs League

BOWLING: Right hand

BEST BOWLING: Six for 23 against Haverigg last season in North Lancs League

NICKNAME: Billy

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Kaikorai, Onslow, Wellington, Otago, Cleator

REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS: New Zealand Under 21

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT (cricket): A game in New Zealand, I went out to bat with two left-handed gloves. I only realised this when I reached the middle and had to walk all the way back to the pavilion to get one right-handed glove instead.

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT (outside cricket): Collapsing the roof of the student flats in Dunedin, New Zealand. We were at the top of our boarding house, having a few drinks and sunning ourselves. As the day went on the student building began to block off our sun. We moved closer to it and eventually onto the roof. It had just old slates on it and they just crumbled. We had a bit of explaining to do.

MOST FEARED OPPONENT: Glen Jonas, my flatmate in Dunedin who keeps wicket for Wellington. He was always bowling me out at home.

MOST AND LEAST SOCIABLE CRICKETER: Most sociable is Ken Rutherford, former New Zealand captain, who enjoys life and his drink. Haven't met any unsociable cricketer.

ONE TO WATCH AT YOUR CLUB: I wouldn't like to single out any player in particular. A couple of the younger guys who have played senior games this season I've been impressed with.

HOBBIES: I'm interested in a lot of other sports - rugby union, tennis, golf, skiing, water sports.

OTHER SPORTS PLAYED: I play all of the above sports. Enjoyment-wise, I like skiing. My favourite is rugby union.

FAVOURITE AND LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICIAN: My favourite is Winston Peters, a politician in New Zealand, who's formed a new party - politics in New Zealand is undergoing change at the minute. He's regarded as a bit of a hardliner but I like the way he speaks his mind. My least favourite is Michael Laws. I just don't like his policies or his style.

FAVOURITE ACTOR: My favourite is - I don't want to say Tom Cruise - Liam Neeson. He plays his parts well and I like the films he's in.

FAVOURITE ACTRESS: Demi Moore for her good looks.

MOST RESPECTED PUBLIC FIGURE: Magic Johnson for the way he's dealt with his predicament and for using his situation to make people aware of AIDS.

LAST FILM SEEN: Broken Arrow. Really enjoyed it. Best moment was when an underground nuclear bomb went off in an action sequence - pretty wicked.

FAVOURITE BAND: Midnight Oil and I have to say Crowded House as well.

FAVOURITE AND LEAST FAVOURITE TV PROGRAMME: My favourite used to be Melrose Place but I don't watch much television any more. My least favourite would have to be Neighbours - it's just Australian rubbish.

BIGGEST GRIPE IN SPORT: Incompetent umpires and slow wickets with no bounce.

BIGGEST GRIPE OUTSIDE SPORT: Smokers.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY: I'd tour the world - I enjoy travelling and to travel the world would be an ambition of mine.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.