Hollingsworth makes England debut aged 15
Justin Hollingsworth
JUSTIN Hollingsworth has joined a select band of players to be selected for England’s Visually Impaired side before their 16th birthday.
After sitting out the first two one-day internationals against Australia, the Arnold Lodge pupil came in for the third Ashes match at Warwick School.
The 15-year-old took a catch and scored two runs off two deliveries before being run out as England suffered a two-wicket defeat to lose the series 3-0.
However, Hollingsworth had done enough to retain his place for the T20 series, which England dominated to win 2-0, with the first and fourth games abandoned due to rain.
Matt Dean hit an unbeaten century and Luke Sugg took three for 19 on the way to leading England to a 74-run victory in the first T20 game at Leamington Cricket Club.
Hampshire’s Andy Powers then made light work of knocking off the runs in the second game, also at Arlington Road, posting 82 as England wrapped things up with nine wickets to spare.
Hollingsworth was not called on to bat in either game but bowled his first two international overs, dismissing respected batsman Nick Haydar with his second ball and having a hand in one of two run outs.
And Hollingsworth who was informed of his England debut on the night before the clash at Warwick School, said he was pleased with his display despite the nerves.
“It was nice to make my debut but I was nervous,” he said.
“But I performed to the best of my ability and got good feedback from captain Luke Sugg.”
Hollingsworth, who was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa as a three-year-old, is now hoping to be selected for the T20 World Cup for the Blind in India in December.
England will join the host country and eight other teams for the inaugural event, with world number ones Pakistan the clear favourites.
“I’ll go back to playing for Warwickshire and hope to prove myself at the England training sessions,” added Hollingsworth.
“But to play in the World Cup would be amazing.”
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Weather for Warwick
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
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Temperature: 4 C to 15 C
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