BROMYARD’S Ian Bullock (pictured centre) is looking to follow in the footsteps of his heroes Ian Botham and Matt Prior, and make it tocricket’s big time.
The 15-year-old has set his sights on playing county cricket after having been in the Worcestershire County set-up since being 11 years old.
“I need to do well at this level, and then move on and play at a bigger club,” said the wicketkeeper.
“My target is to play in the Birmingham League first, possibly for Ombersley,” admitted Bullock.
“My dad has helped me massively, encouraging me and pushed me to do my best,” said the keeper. “He has always told me what to do, where I’m going wrong and gives me a telling off!”
Ian’s father Matt said: “I’m really proud of what he has achieved.
“Ian has been coming to cricket with me since he was two years old – watching me and his uncle Ash.
“He used to drag a bat around and get lads in the club to bowl at him,” said Bromyard first-team coach Matt.
At just six years of age, Ian was playing in Bromyard’s under-11 team and his father added: “He’s been in the Worcestershire set-up since he was 11.
“He plays for us on a Saturday and at Ombersley on a Sunday and also with a junior team there. They have some good coaches including former Worcestershire player Gavin Haynes.
“There are five or six under-15 county players in that Ombersley side in which they’re all friends and it’s been great to watch them progress from when they were little kids to where they are now,” admitted Matt. “For Ian to reach a county standard – that is a long way away. He would like that but only time will tell.
“He has to perform well in Worcestershire League Division One with Bromyard – with his wicket-keeping and batting. He needs to score a lot of runs for us and hopefully get us into the Birmingham League but eventually, he will have to go and play in the Birmingham League for him to progress his cricket,” said Matt.
“Worcestershire go up to under-17s so he needs to keep producing runs for them to keep his place in that team. “The next step from there is probably the Worcestershire Second XI but there aren’t many that make that cut. So eventually you have to make that step into the Birmingham League and produce there.”
The youngster hit 61 not out against Stourport in a pre- season match for Bromyard, and recorded 78 for Worcestershire versus Hampshire at Taunton in which his team went on to win the tournament. “He doesn’t want any pressure on him but he needs to keep hitting fifties and performing well,” added Matt.
Bromyard chairman and Ian’s uncle, Ash Bullock, added: “He’s promising but he just needs to get his head down and work a bit harder.”
