Durham prides itself on its ability to produce first-class homegrown players the rising stars of today are in no better position to achieve first-class cricket status.
Meet Wicketkeeper Ben Rayner (left) who plays for club cricket for Lanchester C.C.
The 14-year-old hopes to play first-class cricket one day but has his feet firmly on the ground, for now, as he knows there is still a long way to go.
“I’d like to play first class county cricket one day” he says.
“But for this season I just keep my batting and wicket keeping up.”
“I need to bat straighter and stand up to balls. Also with my keeping down leg side and against spinners. I need to improve on that too.”
Rayner’s favourite players are Jos Buttler and Ben Foakes.
“Jos Buttler is one of my favourite players because he gets consistent runs all the time, he’s a good wicket keeper and he keeps the team morale up” he says.
“And Ben Foakes because he’s an all rounder, loves hitting good balls, loves hitting bad balls, he’s just a good consistent batter.”
Left-arm bowler Brett Walton (right) who plays for Philadelphia C.C in Houghton le Spring.
Bretts favourite players are Mitchell Starc and James Anderson.
As to why they are his idols he explains: “Starc’s a left arm bowler like me, he swings it in and that’s what I’m trying to do, so I look up to him.
“And I love Anderson just because of his skill. The way he swings the ball and moves the ball off the seam.”
Walton’s ultimate goal in cricket is to go right to the top, but knows his strengths and his weaknesses and realises the mammoth task ahead of him.
“I’d love to go right to the top and play for England obviously, but now I’m looking to just play well this season and improve on my game.
“I could improve on my consistency in bowling and with my batting too, with shotmaking and getting consistent higher scores to get my average up.
“But I’m doing well with my bowling, swinging it in to a right hander and away from a left hander. I enjoy that.”