JOSH Bohannon is targeting a first-team debut for Lancashire this summer.

The ex-Farnworth Social Circle all-rounder has returned home from playing grade cricket in Sydney with a spring in his step.

The 20-year-old hit 609 runs, including a century, and took 24 wickets in 24 matches in all forms for Sydney club Randwick Petersham, a spell which finished recently.

With Lancashire's seconds last season, he scored 783 runs and took 12 wickets from 25 matches, helping them win the three-day Championship title.

"That was a real positive," he said. "To make the Twenty20 finals as well was exceptional. There was a lot of big runs scored.

"For myself, it was great to perform consistently at that level and know I can do it as a professional.

"I averaged 60-odd in three-day cricket, and although I didn't have a great Twenty20 campaign, I still averaged 20 and then 30-odd in one-day cricket, which was good.

"I know the things I need to work on, turning those sixties and seventies into big hundreds.

"It was really good to have almost a full season in the seconds, only missing five weeks through injury."

Bohannon's batting is his strong suit at present, although his swing bowling is coming on and can be a major asset. And he has the ideal team-mate to learn from in new signing Graham Onions.

Alongside head coach Glen Chapple, the former Durham man has been one of county cricket's most potent swing bowlers during the last decade.

"I've played against Graham in the seconds, and it was a really good test," he said. "He's got a wealth of knowledge, and I'll definitely be looking to pick his brains in Dubai."

He went on: "I'm hoping to get a gig in the first team this summer.

"I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself, but I'd love an early score, a big hundred. When I get to 60, I've got to make sure I'm focused to go on. If I do, I'd like to think I've got a good chance."

Bohannon has also hailed second-team coach Chris Benbow for having a significant impact on his development.

Benbow, a Wiganer who played his junior cricket at Golborne, spent a season with Horwich in 2003. Last summer was his first in charge of the seconds.

Bohannon added: "We have a kind of mates' relationship rather than player-coach, and that helps with chatting about things. He was messaging me all the way through Sydney, and he has been fantastic for me and a lot of other lads."