Teenage talent Jimmy Hook is targeting a regular spot in Spalding Town Cricket Club’s first team after shining on Lincolnshire under-17s recent tour of Sri Lanka.
The all-rounder, who is a pupil at Spalding Grammar School, made an unbeaten 100 for Lincs as they won the final game of their tour against Dharmaraja College in Kandy.
His innings included 19 fours and helped the county side reach 314-8, before bowling the home side out for just 130.
Having lost the other four games of the tour, it was the perfect way for Hook and his county colleagues to sign off.
They lost their opener against St Thomas’ College by eight wickets, with the Spalding ace making just two. But he improved to make 12 in game two, which was a seven-wicket defeat to Lycium School at the Sinhalese Sports Ground.
Hook then managed 14 (including a six) as Royal College beat Lincs by just three wickets in the third game, before top scoring with 39 (eight fours) in a 99-run loss to Maliyadeya at the Welagedara Stadium in the fourth contest.
However, his ton in the finale left the 16-year-old hungry for another chance to play in the “cricket mad” sub-continent – and he’s still hopeful that he’ll make it to the top in the sport.
“Playing in Sri Lanka was different, much harder than England,” said Hook. “The conditions were obviously very different and I found it hard to adapt – but thankfully I did in the end.
“There are certain shots that I know I can play in England, but they just didn’t work over there.
“But it certainly whet my appetite to do that sort of thing again, it was an unreal experience. They are cricket mad over there. Getting that century in the last game was just unreal. I got a bit nervous in the 90s, but just slowed things down and got there.
“Being a cricketer has always been up there in what I’d like to do with my life, but realistically I don’t know if that’ll be possible. It’ll always be in the back of my mind.”
For now, Hook’s chief aim is becoming a regular in Spalding Town’s Lincs ECB Premier Division line-up.
The teenager made 19 as Town lost to Bracebridge Heath last Saturday (see above) and also started the opening-day defeat against Woodhall Spa.
He admits that stepping up to play men’s cricket is a bit of an eye-opener, but hopes to get among the runs and wickets as he adapts to the top level on offer in the county.
He added: “My aim for this season is to break in the Spalding Town first team consistently. I want to score lots of runs and take plenty of wickets.
“I see myself as an opener, but for the first team I don’t know if I’m ready yet. It’ll probably be a middle order place that I’m looking at.
“I’m also more a medium pacer if I’m bowling for the first team, whereas when I’ve played for the seconds I’m considered a bit faster. It’s a much different standard. I couldn’t compare myself to the likes of Charlie Kearns.
“Playing with the men is a different game from school matches or under-17s.
“There’s all sorts going on out on the field and it’s certainly an experience for me.”
