DORSET skipper Chris Park believes the forthcoming Minor Counties debut of the 16-year-old Max Trueman offers hope to all youngsters with county ambitions.

Trueman, who attends Queen Elizabeth's School in Wimborne, is set to become one of the youngest players in Dorset's history in Sunday's Unicorns Championship clash with Herefordshire at North Perrott Cricket Club (11am).

The Parley batsman impressed head coach Paul Prichard during the winter and having completed his GCSEs, he is free to concentrate on cricket this summer.

Twelfth man for the victory over Cheshire last week, Trueman will take his place in the middle order and Park hopes he can do himself proud.

Park told the Daily Echo: "It's great another young lad has come through the system and Max deserves his place. What better player to pick than one who has played for county age groups for the past three or four years? It gives everybody hope.

"As a side, we were looking to give him an opportunity and start his development. Forget his age, it's just about his progress.

"He came to winter nets, as an unrecognised name, but how he batted and played caught the eye of Paul Prichard, who is looking to the future.

"He played against Hampshire in the T20 game at Bashley and didn't look out of place at all. He batted beautifully for five or six overs.

"He hasn't played a lot of cricket so far this year because he has only just finished his GCSEs and we just feel it's the right time to give him a game."

Trueman is set to follow in the footsteps of fellow teenagers Rob Pack and Brad Currie in making his Minor Counties debut this year.

Park added: "As a side we are looking to improve our batting and to play the extra batsman is a good decision.

"Max will be batting at five or six with senior players around him so, hopefully, he will be nice and relaxed and will be able to contribute.

"I'm sure he will do. He has self-belief and confidence, which is a positive thing.

"He was with us against Cheshire so he knows the dressing room and how we go about our warm-ups and how a three-day game works.

"That was the start of his development and now we are looking forward to seeing how he performs.

"North Perrott is normally a very friendly batting pitch and that's one of the reasons why we think it's a good time to give him his debut."

Dorset are without professionals Max Waller and Lewis McManus for the fixture.

Dorset: Khan, Arnold, Webb, Porter, Park, Trueman, Wolstenholme, Thomson, Currie, Pack, Barber. Twelfth man: Digby.

Meanwhile, Currie and Bournemouth's Dom Clutterbuck are set to represent Millfield School in the National Under-18 T20 finals at Arundel Castle tomorrow.

Both youngsters have played important roles in Millfield's route to the finals with Clutterbuck being the leading wicket-taker and most economic bowler.