GARETH Berg believes he is in the form of his life as he prepares to return to Lord’s – determined to prove a point to Middlesex.

Hampshire begin their first LV County Championship match at Lord’s since 2006 tomorrow, with Berg in fine all-round form.

“I hope I come back to haunt the club,” said Berg. “Not that I’m bitter. I spent seven good years there but I’ll be doing the best I can for Hampshire.”

The 34 year-old had his contract cancelled by Middlesex in October, after a shoulder injury suffered last April developed into a rare infection that ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Berg believes he is playing better than he ever did for Middlesex. He is Hampshire’s leading bowler in the Championship and only Michael Carberry and Will Smith have made more runs than his 396 at 36.

“In terms of my career I’m at the best stage I’ve ever been and long may it continue,” said Berg, after taking 4-67 - his best figures for four years – and top scoring in both innings of this week’s defeat at home to Somerset.

“I’ve learnt so much in terms of my bowling and batting, like how to hold the ball which I never did at Middlesex, where my role was completely different.”

Berg has described himself as a ‘hang-it-outside-off-stump' bowler at Middlesex but much prefers his more attacking role with Hampshire.

“It’s far more suited to my game and has given me a new lease of life,” he said. It would be fitting if Berg registered his first Hampshire century at Lord’s after a 98-ball 99 and a 104-ball 86 in his last two Championship matches.

“I was probably more attacking earlier in the innings at Middlesex but at the moment I’m letting bowlers come at me to begin with,” he continued. “Once I’m feeling in the groove or have passed fifty I’m taking advantage of any bad balls because I don’t have any bad batsmen coming after me.”

Berg rates his sole Lord’s five-for (5-55 against Gloucestershire in 2009) as his stand-out memory at the home of cricket.

“That was after a being given a few tips by [Gloucestershire’s] Steve Kirby over a couple of beers the night before!” he continued.

“We didn’t win too many games at Lord’s because every away team upped their game 20-30 per cent, the opposition was always up for a big fight.”

Hampshire drew their last Championship game at Lord’s under Shane Warne but won on their previous visit in 1999 and will benefit from Berg’s know-how over the next four days.

“I can help with one per-centers like suggesting which bowlers take which end,” he said. “The slope means a slight change in tactics and plans. As I’m not a big away swing bowler I prefer holding a line from the pavilion end with the odd one straightening. As I’ve got a natural inswinger to right-handers I like to push it across left-handers.”

Berg, who made 50 and took 1-34 in last month’s draw against Middlesex at The Ageas Bowl, added: “I’ve haven’t heard from anyone on the management side but there are a couple of guys on the [Middlesex] committee who keep texting me, saying ‘well done and keep performing’ and that’s a nice tap on the shoulder to have.

“It’s nice to be in touch with people I spent seven years with.”

James Vince will replace the injured Sean Ervine following his return from England duty.

Hampshire (probable): Adams, Terry, Carberry, Vince, Smith, Dawson, Wheater, Berg, Briggs, Bird, Tomlinson.