FAST bowling prospect Nicholas Thornicroft has landed a prized place in the sun.

The Sheriff Hutton-based teenager has been named in the Yorkshire Under-16s' cricket squad to tour South Africa starting next month. The cream of the county side will play several games in the province, where they will be based at Newlands.

Thornicroft, who celebrates his 16th birthday this coming Tuesday, is currently contracted to Yorkshire Cricket Club's Academy ranks after making startling progress since first impressing for Stillington CC.

A pupil at Easingwold School, Thornicroft is also a keen footballer and basketball player. But cricket is his prime love, especially since joining Yorkshire's Academy set-up a year ago.

Dan Broadbent, from Fadmoor, Ryedale, and Harrogate's James Chervak have also been named in the under-16s touring party to South Africa.

Meanwhile, Burnholme School youngster Andrew Bilton has been snapped up by Yorkshire Cricket Association's Pathways to Excellence scheme.

The 12-year-old all-rounder was signed after impressing for Woodhouse Grange CC where he plays for their junior section.

He is the son of Russell Bilton, Woodhouse's leading left-arm spinner, who has twice appeared in Lord's finals with the club, while his grandfather is Alisdair Swann, former captain of Woodhouse CC and Pocklington Rugby Union Club.

The Pathway to Excellence scheme means that Bilton junior, who bats and bowls left-handed, has been taken under the wing of the county club and has the chance to progress to their academy and ultimately to the first team.

Updated: 10:46 Saturday, January 20, 2001