UPCOMING York-based cricketers Nick Thornicroft and Dan Broadbent's rise through the ranks has been on parallel lines up to earning new deals with Yorkshire County Cricket Club. But there's a fresh change as Evening Press sports reporter DAVE FLETT discovers...

TWO of the county's most promising teenage cricketers were both offered new deals at Yorkshire this week.

York youngsters Nick Thornicroft and Dan Broadbent have both been given new contracts, but while one will be celebrating by playing in Bangladesh at the World Cup for England Under-19s this winter, the other will be looking for a part-time job after his surprise omission from the squad.

The careers of 18-year-olds Thornicroft and Broadbent, who were born within a day of each other, have followed similar paths until now.

They both played for North Yorkshire U13s together, both turned out for the county's Academy side and both toured Australia with England U19s.

Paceman Thornicroft, however, will not be joining his good pal Broadbent in Bangladesh next February despite playing for his country's U19 team in both Test matches against South Africa over the summer and taking three wickets in each of the games.

Former Easingwold School pupil Thornicroft also grabbed five wickets for Yorkshire, including the prize scalp of Jonty Rhodes, during the county's last game of the season against Gloucestershire Gladiators - his first senior appearance of the 2003 campaign.

He is delighted that Yorkshire have offered him a new two-year contract but cannot hide his World Cup misery, saying: "It's a big disappointment, especially as I did decently in both Test matches.

"I was probably the best seamer in the first game but I only found out that I had not been selected for Bangladesh when Dan said he had got his letter through. Nobody contacted me to let me know that I would not be going.

"I was sent home from the one-day series in Brighton after being told to go down there. A player took my place who had not played all season and now he's going to the World Cup, which is disappointing but I don't want to say too much.

"I'll just have a bit of a rest now and then just start going to the gym to keep fit and come back strong for next season.

"I will be getting a part-time job and then start going back to Leeds after Christmas."

Thornicroft's five-wicket haul, while too late to make the plane for Bangladesh, may have left a few England selectors with red faces.

The Sheriff Hutton pace ace grabbed five for 42 with three of the wickets coming in a devastating seven-ball spell.

Four of the wickets came after catches before he claimed his first landmark five-wicket haul by bowling a Gloucestershire batsman.

Having made his senior debut at the age of 17 last season, Thornicroft went on to play three first-class matches.

He was made to wait longer for his chance this year but, when it came along, grabbed it with both hands.

The ex-Sheriff Hutton and Stillington bowler said: "I thought I would get a game at some stage this season especially after some of the performances but I just kept doing what I was doing with the second team. I took about 20 wickets for them and we won the Championship.

"But to get five wickets was really great, especially with Jonty Rhodes being one of them.

"I thought my first five-wicket match would be a long time in coming, maybe after a year of first-class cricket so it was a special end to the season.

"Joe Sayers also came in and got a 50 and, after the game, Matthew Wood had a chat with us both and said it was positive for the future that two kids had played like that."

Thornicroft has also appreciated the advice of childhood hero Darren Gough, as well as the county's other senior bowlers during his first season as a junior professional.

He said: "When I have been with Goughie he has been great and a big help. You can ask him a question and he will give you as much advice as he can."

Broadbent, like Thornicroft, has been a member of the Yorkshire Academy team but spent last season helping York finish third in the Yorkshire League table.

He took 51 wickets and formed a devastating spin attack with Jateen Patel.

The former Ryedale School pupil, who now lives in Fadmoor, also scored 338 runs and went on to play one match for Yorkshire Seconds.

It was York's best season since winning the title in 1988 and Broadbent, who has captained England at U17 and U18 level, enjoyed helping his home-city club come within a whisker of repeating that success.

He said: "If you had told the team at the start of the season that they would finish the season third and go into the last game with a chance of winning the league then they would have been happy with that.

"It was not just myself and Jateen. It was a big team effort and there was always a different match-winner."

Now the former Gillamoor and Pickering player is turning his focus towards Bangladesh, where he believes the England team can give a good account of themselves.

He said: "Every single player we have got has had U19 experience and hopefully that will stand us in good stead.

"I think, talent-wise, we will be one of the best teams, if not the best.

"Australia and South Africa will be as competitive as you would expect and, in home conditions, the teams from the sub-continent will be tough as well."

Updated: 10:33 Saturday, September 27, 2003