CHRIS PEPLOE insists he has no regrets about leaving county cricket at Middlesex - even though his blistering form this season suggests he should be playing toplevel cricket.
The 28-year-old threw in the towel with Middlesex last summer because of a lack of first-team action - and his club side Ealing have been the beneficiaries.
Peploe was outstanding in last season's championship-winning side and this year is again proving to be a great allrounder. He has hit three 50s in five innings - plus scores in the 40s and a 30s - and taken 18 wickets.
"I feel the reason I'm playing so well is I feel free and relaxed now," he said.
"I'm enjoying playing so much more because I want to play rather than because I have to. I have no regrets.
"I had a couple of good years with Middlesex, where I had good runs in the first team, but when I fell back into the second team, I started to wonder whether this was what I wanted to do.
"Playing with my mates at Ealing has given me back my form and confidence and I'm playing some of the best cricket I've ever played."
Peploe, who made his county debut in 2003, added: "I'm playing some Minor Counties matches for Berkshire and it's not impossible that I might play county cricket again, but I like combining this level of cricket with my job as a full-time coach."
Peploe was in the runs again on Saturday, but his knock of 61 was not quite enough to maintain the champions' 100 per cent start to the new season.
Rain robbed Ealing of 16 overs in their match with Teddington at Corfton Road and they could not dislodge the last wicket in the final eight overs of the match.
Hasan Khan also posted a 50 in a total of 229-7 from 53 overs. Teddington closed on 179-9 from 51.
Ealing remain top of the Middlesex County League but their lead has been cut to nine points by Hampstead.
