AT the end of another soggy summer, Jake Needham was relieved that the spinner's time had come at last.

It seems a long time since the 21-year-old set a new career-best with 4-81 at Chelmsford almost three months ago. This is only the third Championship match Needham has played since then as the weather has suited the seamers far better.

But he was more than happy to set a new career high with 6-49 yesterday at Grace Road and is looking forward to the chance to hurt Leicestershire again in the second innings.

"It was good to get a good long bowl and fortunately it was my turn to get a few wickets, which from my point of view was long overdue," he said.

"The weather's not been good and the way our attack is based, with Langers and Waggy getting through a lot of overs and getting a lot of success, it has been a matter of if it isn't broke, don't fix it.

"I've been out of the loop for a while and even if it is the end of the season, it gives everybody a reminder that I can do a job.

It's nice to come back and perform.

"I think I've been bowling reasonably well all year. When I came back from Australia in the winter I felt like I'd improved and I felt good about my bowling in Grenada.

"In the times this year when I have played I think I've had one or two reasonable performances and hopefully that does show an improvement on last year and previous years. I'm pretty happy with the way it's coming out at the moment.

"You would expect this pitch to wear further and so whenever we do come to bowl again, I hope I have a big part to play."