BOLTON cricket's latest graduate to the international arena could be the long sought after all-round successor to Ian Botham.

Ronnie Irani, whose competitive career was nurtured at Heaton and Eagley is the latest local cricketer to hit the big time.

And Jeff Todd, who has seen Irani's career grow from an eight-year-old at Heaton's junior coaching sessions to the verge of Test selection is convinced that the player could become an England regular.

"Seeing him reach this stage of his cricket development convinces me that he could be another Botham", said Todd.

"He has the physique and the technique to do well and the temperament to go with it. He has it in him to be a truly great all-rounder."

Todd, a fully qualified cricket coach, saw the young Irani grow up only a six-hit away from Heaton's Lower Pools ground. His first games were at the nearby Church Road School while he went to Heaton as an eight or nine-year-old. Jack Taylor then looked after him at under 13 level and Phil Roberts coached him in the under 15s before he was called up for first team cricket at the age of 14.

"He was the youngest player in the League but he came in and hit 50 against Franklyn Stephenson, an established overseas player.

"He was in the inter-league side at 16 and hit a memorable six at Leyland against the Northern league while he represented Lancashire at all age levels of Lancashire schoolboy cricket," said Todd.

His Bolton League days at Eagley and Heaton then honed his professional qualities in preparation for the move into the county ranks.

And after being called up by Old Trafford, it says something of Irani's character that he was willing to forego a career at Lancashire in an effort to reach the top.

Adds Todd: "He realised that what he wanted could not be achieved easily at Old Trafford so much to everyone's surprise he decided to pursue a career at Essex. "It was never going to be easy but he worked hard and I'm delighted to say that it has paid off for him.

"Now he has a marvellous opportunity to build a long career at international level and knowing him as I do, I think he will make it."

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