Hook & Newnham Basics prospect Rhodes Franklin is hoping a gap year winter playing in Western Australia, coupled with a positive end to the past summer, will boost his chance of firmly establishing himself in Southern Premier League Division 1 cricket next season.
Cricket raised at Yateley, Franklin broke into Hook’s first team last season, finishing the summer strongly with an unbeaten 43 which saved Basics (37-6 at the time) from total ignominy in Basingstoke & North Hants’ promotion clinching win at the KGV.
He bowled a fairly regular ten-over stint in Division 1 games, with a best yet 3-40 return at Liphook & Ripsley, where his late 24 not out proved a match winner as Hook chased down 236 with three balls to spare.
“I consider myself more of a short-format cricketer and want to produce more performances like that and push for a slot higher up the batting order,” the 19-year old said.
Franklin, who played in Hampshire’s Under-17 County Championship winning side in 2015, has underlined his big hitting batting capabilities on several occasions for Hook in t20 cricket.
He’s also enjoying his time in Perth, where he has hooked up with Murdoch University Melville in Suburban Turf cricket.
“Unfamiliar with the conditions, I endured a rocky start, but my batting has begun to come back, with an unbeaten 50 and other scores of 45 and 36,” he reports from Down Under.
“I’m averaging 30, with a bowling average of 11, and 20 wickets so far.
“As everyone knows, there’s a massive difference in playing cricket out here (in Australia), but all being well I’ll benefit hugely from the experience.
“My main aim is to make a real contribution with bat and ball at Hook & Newnham Basics next summer.”
Cricket raised at Yateley, Franklin broke into Hook’s first team last season, finishing the summer strongly with an unbeaten 43 which saved Basics (37-6 at the time) from total ignominy in Basingstoke & North Hants’ promotion clinching win at the KGV.
He bowled a fairly regular ten-over stint in Division 1 games, with a best yet 3-40 return at Liphook & Ripsley, where his late 24 not out proved a match winner as Hook chased down 236 with three balls to spare.
“I consider myself more of a short-format cricketer and want to produce more performances like that and push for a slot higher up the batting order,” the 19-year old said.
Franklin, who played in Hampshire’s Under-17 County Championship winning side in 2015, has underlined his big hitting batting capabilities on several occasions for Hook in t20 cricket.
He’s also enjoying his time in Perth, where he has hooked up with Murdoch University Melville in Suburban Turf cricket.
“Unfamiliar with the conditions, I endured a rocky start, but my batting has begun to come back, with an unbeaten 50 and other scores of 45 and 36,” he reports from Down Under.
“I’m averaging 30, with a bowling average of 11, and 20 wickets so far.
“As everyone knows, there’s a massive difference in playing cricket out here (in Australia), but all being well I’ll benefit hugely from the experience.
“My main aim is to make a real contribution with bat and ball at Hook & Newnham Basics next summer.”
