ENGLAND bowlers Matthew Hoggard and Chris Silverwood are both helping York youngster Nick Thornicroft in his bid to follow in their illustrious footsteps.

Thornicroft carried out 12th man duties when England visited Headingley last summer and is currently benefiting from the advice of current Test star Hoggard and former international Silverwood during the final year of his junior professional contract at Yorkshire.

Both are accomplished tutors for the Easingwold-based pace ace.

Hoggard was labelled the "King of the Swingers" for his performance in last Winter's test series victory over South Africa, where he was the leading wicket taker with 26.

His displays included a third Test haul of 12-205 which was the best individual bowling performance by an England player since Ian Botham dismantled India in 1979 and opened this summer's Test series with 4-42 against Bangaldesh at Lord's yesterday.

Silverwood, currently in his benefit year with Yorkshire, may be entering the twilight of his career but, in his prime, also impressed in South Africa, taking 5-91 during his debut test series in 1999-2000, and Thornicroft is delighted to count both players as mentors.

He said: "Chris Silverwood always chats to me as does Matthew Hoggard when he comes back from England. They have both been fantastic and I am able to speak to anybody about anything really at Yorkshire and any input is helpful.

"The players talk about the importance of discipline a lot and putting the ball in one area for six balls an over. If you do that you will take wickets - as long as you are putting them in the right place that is.

"I've grown up a lot with my bowling at Yorkshire. I used to think you could just blast people out but you have to be disciplined."

Thornicroft enjoyed his first taste of county action in 2005 with the second team at Clifton Park this week after the start to his season was hampered by a back injury and poor weather.

He is catching up for lost time and took a couple of wickets yesterday to help push the Tykes' close to victory over a combined Middlesex and Kent 2nd XI.

He is also hoping to play first-class cricket with Yorkshire this season but, for now, is combining second team duties with playing for York in the Yorkshire League.

And the talented 20-year-old has, so far, been impressed with the reigning champions.

He said: "Nobody's a big superstar and everybody in the team has a role. I want to play as much for York as I can because it's a great set-up and a good pitch to play on.

"There's a fantastic atmosphere at the club. At nets, the amount of people from Under-14 level to our first XI is unbelievable. We've also played a lot of double weekends and I don't think anybody's missed a game. They are quite a professional outfit to say they are amateur and retaining the Yorkshire League title is a more than realistic target.

"We have strength low down in the batting order and we can also go on the field with six or seven good bowlers. We might have played some of the lesser sides but we have annihilated them and I think we would have also beaten Doncaster if it wasn't for the weather and they are strong side."

Updated: 10:31 Friday, May 27, 2005