TEENAGE cricketer David Hurst is chasing success on two fronts after being chosen for the North of England team and a prestigious bowling masterclass with Shane Warne's leg spin guru Terry Jenner.

The 13-year-old from Heswall is one of six Cheshire age group players chosen for the north, alongside under 13 team mates John and David While from Wallasey, with under 15 players James McCoy, Daniel Woods and Daniel Berry also receiving the call.

He is also one of 20 players from across the country attending the spin workshop in Taunton, where the best four bowlers will get to go to Australia for a two-week masterclass.

His dad Don said David, who plays for Neston cricket club and Birkenhead School, is equally excited by both opportunities.

"He plays football and golf, but cricket is the real passion for David. I am biased because he is my son, but he has a lot of talent," he added.

"He has been attending nets for the north since December and had the final trial a couple of weeks ago to get through.

"They will play the South, West and Midlands teams in Taunton next month with the best players going on to play for the full England under 15 side.

"David was ecstatic to be chosen because there were 30 lads there for 13 places so it was very competitive."

As for his burgeoning leg spinning skills, Don said his son exhibited a natural aptitude for the most difficult of cricketing arts.

"When he used to come to nets with me when he was seven or eight, he suddenly started spinning the ball from the back of his hand," he remembered.

"It was almost an innate skill to turn the ball and he has worked hard to continue to develop it.

"Obviously he has watched Shane Warne a lot to try and emulate him and he has read his autobiography a few times, too, to pick up some tips."

For the past two years, his skills have matured under Jenner's guidance at several ECB coaching courses.

Don said: "He has been a big help to David and he listens to his advice an awful lot, especially about getting the ball as high as possible to give it more chance of spinning.

"David also throws in the odd flipper or wrong 'un as well, though, to keep the batsman on their toes and enjoys trying to outguess the batsmen."

Don also praised the encouragement and advice of Cheshire under 13s coaches Dave Burrows and Clive Elliott and added his son has two simple targets for his debut for the North team.

"He is just looking to take as many wickets and score as many runs as possible," he pointed out.

"They are taking 13 players so he is hoping to play in all the games against the best players in his age group."