Former Bury Grammar School pupil Steven Cheetham says he has absolutely no idea whether he will continue his first team career with Lancashire on Thursday.

The 20 year-old pace bowler, formerly of Radcliffe, made his Red Rose first team bow in Sunday's Friends Provident Trophy defeat at Durham.

He was thrust into the limelight due to the injury absence of five senior bowlers, but impressed greatly with 2-39 from his 10 overs.

Cricket manager Mike Watkinson is hopeful that Oliver Newby and Tom Smith will be available for the penultimate FPT North Division game at Derbyshire on Thursday.

But if the injury situation does not improve, Cheetham has already demonstrated his worth: "I have no idea. I will be just taking it as it comes," he said, after removing former South African international batsman Dale Benkenstein for his first-ever county wicket.

"If I get the nod, then I will be thrilled again. I came down and I gave it everything I had. I have had a decent start, and hopefully I have given Mike Watkinson something to think about for the future."

Cheetham, born in Oldham, began his cricketing career at Radcliffe - but left four years ago in favour of a move to Heywood.

He is on a Lancashire scholarship deal, and his only previous first team action was in a three-day friendly against Durham University last April.

"I would love to play again," he continued. "This has given me the taste for it now. If I can keep doing well, then I will keep knocking at the door."

Just like Atherton pro Steven Mullaney, Cheetham spent the winter playing grade cricket in Melbourne.

"I played for a team called Cheltenham in the end. I moved clubs within the first week because there was a mix up," he explained.

"The team that I played for won the Grand Final, which they haven't done for 70-odd years. It was a massive honour to do that. I got 40 wickets at eight. I got a few runs as well, which was a surprise.

"I work massively on confidence. If I go out there and think that I will do alright, then I generally will.

"I found out on Friday afternoon that I was playing at Durham. Gary Yates got a call from Mike Watkinson. When Yatesy told me, I was absolutely thrilled to pieces."