MARK Cosgrove is the youngest cricket player to come over from Australia and be pitched into the cut and thrust of the Darlington Building Society NYSD League Premier Division.

Redcar are delighted at the form of the young Aussie, who is visiting cousins in the town.

Redcar secretary Brian Smith said: "I heard he was coming over for a six-month holiday and that he played a good grade of cricket in South Australia.

"I was not sure what to expect. Once we saw him, however, we knew he could do the business with bat and ball and he has certainly helped to lift the club to the top of the Premier Division."

Mark, who was 16 this week, said: "I have work from school, which I sit down to during the day, but enjoy either going to the nets or playing in the evenings and at weekends."

With cold, wet weather, Mark found playing different in England. "I am not used to bowling on slow wickets," he said.

But he believes any good bowler should be able to adapt and, with 21 wickets and nearly 200 runs to his credit by last week, there is no doubt he has been successful.