JAMIE Perkin says a change in approach helped him become the Minor Counties Championship’s second-highest run scorer in his debut season.

The Oxfordshire batsman scored 622 runs at an average of 77.75 to finish just 17 short of Suffolk’s Hasan Adnan.

And considering the Oxford CC player missed one of Oxon’s six matches to go on holiday, his record is even more impressive.

With seamer Chad Keegan also finishing as the Championship’s second-highest wicket-taker, it was a fine individual season for Oxfordshire.

Perkin said: “I changed my game over the winter. I worked a lot on hitting the ball straighter and trying to bat for a lot more time.

“The help Rupert Evans put in has made a big difference.

“I really enjoy the three-day stuff now, probably more than the one-dayers.

“I have been a more aggressive batsman, but I have reversed my game now.

“Jason Harrison, my captain at Oxford, made the point that you can’t score runs if you are back in the pavilion.

“I known it is obvious, but the longer I stay out there, the more chance I have.

“It is a bit of a shame that the season is ending.

“I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m hoping to kick on next year.”

Having done so well in his maiden campaign, would wicket-keeper Perkin like to step up to a higher level?

He said: “I’m sure there will be a bit of interest, but I am not really thinking about first-class at the moment.

“I want to go away over the winter and work on my fitness and come back stronger next year.”

The highlight of Perkin’s season were his two centuries against Dorset – making him only the third Oxon batsman to achieve the feat.

He said: “The best part of that match was that we won. It was one of the best wins I have ever been involved in.

“It was frustrating not to get two more hundreds in the next match against Berkshire (he made 83 and 96).”

Keegan claimed 42 wickets at an average of 15.95, with a best match display of 13-155.

Only Bedfordshire’s Adam Shepherd surpassed him with 46 victims, having taken 12-86 in their final match.