BASHLEY captain Richard Morris believes Ryan Higgins’s competitive streak will serve him well as he tries to forge a career in the professional game.

Higgins, who was brought to Bashley by Morris, has been named in the England squad for an under-19 triangular series against Pakistan and Bangladesh next month.

The 18-year-old all-rounder is on the staff at Middlesex and last week scored his maiden Second XI Championship century in a victory over Essex. Higgins, who has the rare talent of being able to bowl fast and spin, maintained his good form by hitting 40 in Bashley’s Southern Premier League win at Hampshire Academy six days ago.

Morris told the Daily Echo: “Ryan is a very talented young man and, to be honest, I don’t think we have quite seen the best of him yet because he has spent a fair bit of time at school.

“I am convinced he is going to have a long career in the game. He is a particularly good batter but he has got a competitive streak which I think will serve him well as he goes through the levels.

“It is a pretty good achievement for an 18-year-old to score a hundred for Middlesex seconds and he looked in good touch when he batted for us against the Academy.”

Higgins, who attends Bradfield College, showed his fiery side when making his feelings known to Morris about team tactics during Bashley’s win over Alton a fortnight ago.

Morris added: “It almost goes with the territory for young lads to make the occasional mistake and some of his behaviour against Alton went beyond what I would expect from a Bashley player and he knew that.

“He is pretty fiery and I don’t think we are ever going to change him but I have got no problem as long as he meets my expectations and channels it in the right way. He is just competitive. He has worked hard at his studies and has made a decision that cricket is the career he wants to pursue.

“It is almost a case of tunnel vision – the goal is there and he has got to find a way to achieve it. Anybody who may try to knock him off course is a bit of a disruption.

“People have to remember he is still a young lad who has almost been thrown in at the deep end with us and, hopefully, we are going to see the results coming through pretty soon.”

Higgins will be hoping to help Bashley maintain their impressive recent form when they host fellow Premier Division high-fliers Ventnor tomorrow (11.30am).

Bashley: Morris, Terry, Thurgood, Gilmour, Higgins, Vaughan, Ridley, Friedman, Neal, R Grierson, Nash.