STEVE Stubbings made the most of a late – and unexpected – call to return to the Derbyshire first team yesterday at the County Ground.

Eleven weeks after losing his place through lack of form, the 30-year-old batsman was told he was back in the side the night before the start of the game and responded with a valuable 62 not out against Gloucestershire.

Stubbings (pictured) admitted his chance was a pleasant surprise after also struggling for runs in the second team.

"I'm not going to lie, it's been a very difficult few months," he said. "Usually when a senior player goes into the seconds, they churn out big runs and it hasn't happened for me and it seemed to get harder and harder.

"I feel pretty lucky to have got the opportunity to play in this game.

"I was cutting the grass at my place at about six o'clock last night and John (Morris) gave me the call. I was buzzing after that and whatever happened, I was determined to enjoy the game and make the most of it."

But there were also plenty of nerves for Stubbings as he walked to the middle – to a good round of applause – at an unaccustomed number six in the batting order.

"I was pretty nervous but when I came out to bat, the guys who watch obviously knew I hadn't played for a while and gave me some applause, which meant a lot," he added. "It was just great fun to be out in the middle again; just to spend some time out there and feel that things were moving in the right places again and getting a few away was a nice feeling.

"It was a different proposition coming in at six and, with the ball darting about all over the place at the start of the day, I guess it was a rare treat coming in down the order."

Stubbings' day ended on the treatment table but he does not expect to be out long.

"I wanted to make a one into a two and get back on strike but I just tweaked the hamstring a bit," he added.