MOST teenagers dream of having one shot at becoming a professional sportsman, but Bolton cricketer Josh Bohannon has already had two.

Eighteen-year-old Bohannon is making waves in Lancashire’s Academy as an all-rounder, and even undertook 12th man duties for the first team during last week’s LV= County Championship win over Kent.

But the ex-Farnworth Social Circle player was not always destined to be a star with bat and ball having been on the books of Blackburn Rovers Football Club until the age of 13.

“My dad never forced me to play either, but he’d always come out on the field with me and teach me new techniques,” said Bohannon, last year’s Lancashire Cricket Board under 17s Player of the Year.

“Then, when he realised there was a bit of talent there with cricket, he took it further, and I was taken on Lancashire’s books from Farnworth Social Circle.

“I didn’t start to play cricket until I was nine, and then I went to Farnworth because of a coach my dad knew, Simon Booth. I got into Lancs' under-11s side, and I’ve played age-group cricket ever since.

“I did a lot of work with Rudra Singh, Steve Titchard and John Stanworth, and now I’m working with Gary Yates and Ashley Giles.”

Bohannon, schooled at Harper Green, has moved clubs from Social Circle to Southport and Birkdale in the Liverpool Competition, a league where a number of Lancashire’s youngsters or fringe players play on Saturdays.

And his duties as Lancashire’s 12th man enabled him to work closely with three current and former Test cricketers on the Red Rose staff.

“Playing as 12th man was a real experience,” he said. “I got on the field enough.

“I didn’t have the opportunity to take any catches or do anything outstanding, but it was the experience of being around the players and seeing the way they prepare for the game, which was very different from what I have seen before.

“I was sitting next to Peter Siddle, who was talking me through the game and how he grew up. I was also watching Ashwell Prince in the nets, and the way he goes about things.

“I did a session with Alviro Petersen, and all he wanted to do was hit the ball straight.”

Lancashire, who drew their most recent Championship match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road earlier this week, are back in action against Gloucestershire at Emirates Old Trafford on Sunday.