CRICKETANOTHER Island cricketer is on the path to a professional career.
Ventnor batsman Adam Hose, 18, and son of club stalwart Jeff, has been offered a contract for the 2012 season with the MCC Young Cricketers, and will be based at Lord’s in London.
It is a route taken by several successful IW cricketers, including Mark Garaway, Steve Snell and Chris Sketchley.
In recent weeks, Adam has enjoyed good success, including getting his maiden century (104) against Gloucester-shire.
Adam said: "I am really looking forward to it. I’ll be playing a couple of games a week, and I might even help with the ground at Lord’s during matches."
His contract officially starts on April 1 but he will be taking part in a pre-season tour to Abu Dhabi in March. Before that, however, he is going to Australia, to join the Darren Lehmann Academy.
"I’m going to work hard on improving my fitness and strength, and on my bowling, which I’ve not been able to do fully for the last two seasons because of a back injury."
l Ventnor player Steve Snell took centre stage for Somerset in their first Champions League Twenty20 qualifying match in India on Tuesday.
Snell, who was called up from minor counties cricket as a substitute wicketkeeper, steered Somerset to a last-ball victory over Auckland.
Auckland reached 127-5 but Somerset struggled, reaching 64-5 before Snell joined James Hildreth. The pair put on 61 before Hildreth departed with two runs needed from two balls.
Alfonso Thomas hit the winning run with Snell at the other end, finishing on an unbeaten 34 from 24 balls.
Somerset won their second match against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday, by 11 runs. Snell got four in a total of 166-6.