TO HAVE sons on the books of two different first-class counties cannot be easy to handle, but for the Currie family, it is a challenge they embrace.

Seamers Scott and Bradley, two of Dorset’s most talented prospects since the likes of Lewis McManus, Tom Barber and David Payne, both honed their skills playing through the county's age group system.

Countless miles and time in the car with mum and dad have helped them progress to an impressive level, having attracted interest from professional clubs.

Left-armer Bradley, 18, is in the set-up at Surrey, while 16-year-old right-armer Scott continues to work with the academy at Hampshire.

Younger sibling Scott has been picked to play for the South & West in the ECB Super 4s Under-17 Regional Championships at Loughborough. He is the solitary Hampshire selection for the five-day tournament.

Elder brother Bradley played in the Super 4s last season and subsequently joined Surrey, for whom he took five Middlesex Second XI Championship wickets recently.

Both were initially set to play for Dorset in their final Minor Counties clash against Cornwall but Bradley was forced to withdraw from the squad due to commitments with Surrey.

This meant more travelling for parents Helen and Billy, who are used to being on the road in a bid to enhance the youngsters’ star potential.

Based in Branksome, proud mum Helen told the Daily Echo: “We try and keep their feet on the ground but, equally with it, we are their biggest fans and we do everything to help them.

“It quite often means my husband goes one way with one son and I go one way with the other son.

“Their paths have been slightly different but it’s just having Billy and I around to be able to drive them backwards and forwards and get them to these places.

“You do it because that’s what you do as parents. The reward and the enjoyment they get and the progress that they have made makes it all worthwhile.

“It would have been really nice to have them together playing a three-day match for Dorset, but maybe next season.”

The cricket craze started between the duo when Helen took Bradley to the Dorset Cricket Centre at Hurn Bridge when he was six.

Scott then asked to join in and the pair eventually played youth cricket for Poole Town, while going through the Dorset age group structure.

“The ball was always hitting the garage door and the back garden is not that big but they were always out there as much as they possibly could be,” Helen added.

“They always had a ball in their hand or at their feet, definitely.”

Fast forward to the current day and, as well as their exploits with professional set-ups, the brothers’ paths have crossed.

Both have represented Dorset this summer on different occasions, while also playing against each other in the Southern Premier League.

Bradley’s Bashley overcame Scott’s Hampshire Academy by 48 runs on that occasion, but it does not stop the siblings trying to enhance each other’s performance.

Helen said: “They are always talking cricket and discussing tactics.

“They learn from each other but Scott looks up to his older brother, respects him and takes notice of what Bradley is doing and how he is doing it.

“Equally, Scott is still his own person and is doing his own thing. I would say they are both confident in what they can achieve with their bowling.”

But, no matter how far the pair progress in the game, their parents feel rewarded by the brothers' enjoyment and ambition.

“It’s interesting because we can actually learn from each county. They are very different in the way they run the academies and training,” Helen added.

“The boys have been very lucky. They are well supported by Surrey, Dorset and Hampshire and I am hoping they will continue to play cricket for a long time.

“They both love their cricket. We get something back from watching them, seeing them develop and mature.

“Even if they don’t make it into the professional game I hope it will be their sport.”