Carberry keen to carry on

Michael Carberry had a very successful tour with England Lions in India © Getty Images

Hampshire batsman Michael Carberry is eager to make 2008 his year after impressive performances last summer and for England Lions over the winter.

And what better way to show off his credentials than with a good performance against current county champions Sussex in their opening championship game of the season, which starts on Wednesday.

Carberry ended last season with 1,067 runs at an average of 50, and was England Lions' most consistent batsman on their tour of India, something from which he gained a lot.

"The hundreds I made and carrying on from where I left off over the summer meant I thoroughly enjoyed the tour," he told ecb.co.uk.

"They are obviously very good in their own conditions. I learnt some things from some of the more senior guys around me and I worked with Dave Houghton, the batting coach, and got some more input there.

"It was good to come back with things to work on as I try to make this my summer."

Carberry is already being talked about as a potential England batsman, but the man himself does not want to get too carried away by things that are out of his control.

Carberry is not getting carried away by the hype surrounding his future © Getty Images

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"With all the hype that is going on around my name now, it is all about knuckling down and trying to put it to one side," he admitted.

"Obviously it is very nice, don't get me wrong, and it would be fantastic if I could make my senior debut this year.

"Batting day by day and trying to score runs is ultimately what I am there for and I just need to let the whole England thing take care of itself."

Carberry has not set himself any targets this year, preferring instead to focus on each game as it comes and getting a positive result from it.

"I'm not really a figures person, with 1,500 or 1,700 runs. I like to try to win as many games as I can," he added.

"If it means getting a hundred in a game, then fine, or if it means getting an 80 on a really difficult wicket.

"I think learning how to win is really important. Sometimes it could be with the bat or it could be in the field.

"Once I feel my game going that way forward, I tend to think the figures take care of themselves."

However, Carberry has not been tempted to alter his game too much, having already spent seven seasons playing first-class cricket - with Surrey and Kent before finally settling at Hampshire.

"Technically I haven't really changed too much," he confirmed. "I'm coming into my 28th year (of age) now so I'm quite happy with how my technique is.

"There are one or two things that I've looked to tinker with, but my general base game I am pretty happy with and how most things are flowing.

Carberry is looking forward to getting out in the middle and making runs © Getty Images

"It is just about getting runs now, I think. I am looking forward to getting out in the middle, in the heat of the battle, and making some runs."

And Carberry feels prepared for the season ahead, starting with the visit of Sussex.

"It has been patchy at times, but I've been working really hard in the indoor school and trying to grab coaches, and any of the boys who have been floating around, to iron things out," he said.

Hampshire go into the match, and the season, with many people writing them off after the departure of Shane Warne, but Carberry is sure that will only spur them on.

"We are going through a rebuilding phase at the club at the moment with Warney leaving us and several other senior figures as well," he said.

"A lot of people have made us slight underdogs now, but the way we have looked at it, it is time for a change now.

"Shane Warne has left a good legacy behind. It is important for us as a club to remember those things and carry his legacy forward.

"If it clicks there is no reason why we shouldn't be up there to win it (the LV County Championship) either.

"The main thing from our perspective, taking the pressure off ourselves, is really to play as good cricket as we can play and try to win as a squad."