County trial for nurse

One of Barbados' promising teenage cricketers has been offered a trial with English county Nottinghamshire.

Rohan Nurse, the newly-appointed Barbados youth team captain, has been given the opportunity, along with South African Carol Fourie, following amazing performances for Kings School and Grantham Club during the past few months.

We have been offered two trial days to prove ourselves and if we do well we can play for the second (Nottinghamshire) team until they decide to give us a full contract to play professionally, the 18- year-old Nurse told NATIONSPORT yesterday.

It is a big opportunity, he said, adding that he reckoned he stood a good chance of landing a stint for the club's second XI.

Nurse, who returned home on Friday after completing the first year of Advanced Level studies in computer studies, business studies and physical education, feels his chances of gaining a contract with Nottinghamshire will be enhanced if he performs impressively in next month's regional Under-19 Championships.

I think I can do it as long as I put myself up to the task. If I do well in the tournament and make the West Indies Under-19 side, it would be a lot easier for me to land the contract, he said.

I've played against a lot of the guys. They are okay, but they are not up to our standard in the West Indies.

They are a bit more innovative, but there is not much strokeplay and flair.

The former Combermere schoolboy enjoyed a prolific season, scoring 1 225 runs in 25 matches at an average of 83.

He enjoyed a purple patch in which he reeled off five successive centuries.

His hundred against an MCC XI was watched by the managing director of Gunn & Moore, which is linked to Nottinghamshire. He relayed details of Nurse's performances to the management of the club and they made the offer.

Nurse described his English experience of the last ten months as a learning one.

The pitches were different. The ball swung a little more than in Barbados, and overall my whole professional approach to the game has improved, he said.

I wouldn't say the standard was the best, but it wasn't mediocre either.

It was good competition, but most teams would usually have about three good bowlers and you just have to wait for the bad bowlers to come along.