PRAHARSH Parikh is the latest Bolton School cricketer to impress on the national scene.
The Year 11 pupil is following in the footsteps of a trio of youngsters who have broken through into the professional game over the last two seasons – England and Lancashire batsman Haseeb Hameed and twins Matthew and Callum Parkinson who play for Lancashire and Leicestershire, respectively.
This season 15-year-old Parikh has played for the North of England Under-15s, Lancashire County U15s and Winton Cricket Club's first team as well as his school.
He has also represented the Best of Bunbury (England) U15s, which is used as a trial for selecting England U16s the following summer.
The Salford teenager's impressive record of success has seen him become the highest wicket taker for his three teams outside of school, the North of England – with best figures of 3-5 runs, Lancashire County –with best figures of 3-26, and Winton with 7-50 and 5-32.
He has been invited to be a practice bowler for Indian Premier League team Rising Pune Supergiants next season – the youngest and only off spinner from the United Kingdom.
A member of the England Development Programme and Lancashire CCC's Elite Player Programme, he has also been offered a contract as overseas pro to play three key fixtures for a premier division senior team in Kenya.
Another current player at Bolton School to watch is Rehan Udwadia, who was the school’s leading run scorer over the summer, is with Lancashire’s Academy and has played twice for the Red Rose county's second team.
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