Teenage Hampshire prospect Scott Currie is set to take the new ball and open the bowling for England's young cricketers in the upcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa.
That's little more than six months after returning from a career threatening stress fracture to his lower back.
It wasn't until early June last summer that Currie, whose roots in the game were sewn as a 12-year old at Poole Town, tiptoed his way back on to the local cricket scene, having spent the first half of the calendar year in rehabiliatation.
"After the extent of my back injury was diagnosed, I spent five months in rehab, which predominantly revolved around strengthening the trunk, legs, back and core muscles," he explained.
As he alights an overnight Johannesburg bound flight, Currie may contemplate on his embroyo career in the game having turned full circle in a very short space of time.
A decade or so ago a stress back fracture might have brought a premature end to a young bowler's career, but advancement in medical skills and technology has changed all that.
"It was a hard grind, but ultimately worth all the pain," Currie confessed.
Rising Stars
Now Currie is raring to go and being a new-ball bowler (coupled with being a more than handy batsman) is a key member of a 15-man England squad chosen for the 16-nation global tournament - the team initially being based in Kimberley, the capital of South Africa's diamond industry.
Currie is understandably delighted to have been selected for the Under-19 World Cup following England's pre-Christmas trip to the Caribbean, where he played four times in a Rising Stars Tri-Series against Sri Lanka and the West Indies.
"It's obviously a huge privilege to be selected, without doubt the pinnacle of age group cricket," he said, jokingly adding "It's not the sort of thing that normally happens to an 18-year old living in a culs-de-sac in Poole."
Currie got a taste of playing cricket in South Africa last February on a Hampshire Academy trip to Hilton College, but he acknowledges that conditions up on the High Veldt will be far different to those in sweaty KZ Natal.
Kimberley, where England are pitched against Australia, Nigeria and the West Indies in a demanding qualifying group, is almost 4,000 feet above sea level, with the batsman friendly pitches unlikely to assist the bowlers in either bounce or movement.
Fond memories of Poole
"And we can anticipate the mercury nearing 40C," grinned the 18-year old, who certainly won't be forgetting his Poole Town roots when he proudly slips on his England shirt in the pre-tournament warm-up matches against Zimbabwe (in Pretoria next Sunday) and Afghanistan two days later.
"I played in all the junior age groups at Poole and will always remember my debut, as a 12-year old, in the fourth team against Charlton Down at Whitecliff recreation ground," he smiled.
"I then played in each of the Saturday sides in consecutive years until the age of 15 years.
"Some of my fondest memories of cricket have come in a Poole shirt."
Currie, whose elder brother Bradley was named Southern Premier League Young Cricketer of the Year after helping Bashley (Rydal) to a maiden title last summer, went on to play for Dorset at Under-14, 15 and 17 county levels and subsequently the full Minor Counties Championship side.
His obvious potential was spotted by Hampshire, who now have him contracted as a 'rookie' player.
No surprise that after one magical day last July when he hit an unbeaten and career best 127 against Glamorgan in a Second XI Championship match at the Ageas Bowl and subsequently helped Hampshire IIs win the second team title outright.
Now his eyes are focused on the ICC Under-19 World Cup and warm-up games next weekend before the serious stuff begins against the West Indies in Kimberley on January 20.
That's little more than six months after returning from a career threatening stress fracture to his lower back.
It wasn't until early June last summer that Currie, whose roots in the game were sewn as a 12-year old at Poole Town, tiptoed his way back on to the local cricket scene, having spent the first half of the calendar year in rehabiliatation.
"After the extent of my back injury was diagnosed, I spent five months in rehab, which predominantly revolved around strengthening the trunk, legs, back and core muscles," he explained.
As he alights an overnight Johannesburg bound flight, Currie may contemplate on his embroyo career in the game having turned full circle in a very short space of time.
A decade or so ago a stress back fracture might have brought a premature end to a young bowler's career, but advancement in medical skills and technology has changed all that.
"It was a hard grind, but ultimately worth all the pain," Currie confessed.
Rising Stars
Now Currie is raring to go and being a new-ball bowler (coupled with being a more than handy batsman) is a key member of a 15-man England squad chosen for the 16-nation global tournament - the team initially being based in Kimberley, the capital of South Africa's diamond industry.
Currie is understandably delighted to have been selected for the Under-19 World Cup following England's pre-Christmas trip to the Caribbean, where he played four times in a Rising Stars Tri-Series against Sri Lanka and the West Indies.
"It's obviously a huge privilege to be selected, without doubt the pinnacle of age group cricket," he said, jokingly adding "It's not the sort of thing that normally happens to an 18-year old living in a culs-de-sac in Poole."
Currie got a taste of playing cricket in South Africa last February on a Hampshire Academy trip to Hilton College, but he acknowledges that conditions up on the High Veldt will be far different to those in sweaty KZ Natal.
Kimberley, where England are pitched against Australia, Nigeria and the West Indies in a demanding qualifying group, is almost 4,000 feet above sea level, with the batsman friendly pitches unlikely to assist the bowlers in either bounce or movement.
Fond memories of Poole
"And we can anticipate the mercury nearing 40C," grinned the 18-year old, who certainly won't be forgetting his Poole Town roots when he proudly slips on his England shirt in the pre-tournament warm-up matches against Zimbabwe (in Pretoria next Sunday) and Afghanistan two days later.
"I played in all the junior age groups at Poole and will always remember my debut, as a 12-year old, in the fourth team against Charlton Down at Whitecliff recreation ground," he smiled.
"I then played in each of the Saturday sides in consecutive years until the age of 15 years.
"Some of my fondest memories of cricket have come in a Poole shirt."
Currie, whose elder brother Bradley was named Southern Premier League Young Cricketer of the Year after helping Bashley (Rydal) to a maiden title last summer, went on to play for Dorset at Under-14, 15 and 17 county levels and subsequently the full Minor Counties Championship side.
His obvious potential was spotted by Hampshire, who now have him contracted as a 'rookie' player.
No surprise that after one magical day last July when he hit an unbeaten and career best 127 against Glamorgan in a Second XI Championship match at the Ageas Bowl and subsequently helped Hampshire IIs win the second team title outright.
Now his eyes are focused on the ICC Under-19 World Cup and warm-up games next weekend before the serious stuff begins against the West Indies in Kimberley on January 20.