TALENTED teenage cricketer Jack Humphrys' progress at the Somerset Academy has been boosted after he received a £1,000 scholarship from the club's registered charity.

Chippenham-based Humphrys, 16, began a two-year course at Taunton in September and was handed an initial £500 by the Tony Coles Charitable Trust after becoming the first Wiltshire youngster to qualify for a place at the prestigious academy.

The £500 must be spent on cricket equipment or tours and Humphrys will receive the same sum when he begins his second year in September 2002.

Humphrys, who opened the batting for Chippenham in the West of England Premier League in the summer, recently secured a sponsorship deal with equipment manufacturer Gray Nicholls and will spend the money on cricket kit and use part of it to help fund his trip to Perth, Australia with the Somerset Academy in March.

Said Humphrys: "I was very pleased. They only give it to one person in the academy every year and they selected me because I am the first person from Wiltshire to go there.

"I'm also going to Australia in March, which will be great. I can't wait for that. It will be a brilliant experience to play overseas."

Humphrys is living with a host family in Taunton while at the academy and is studying Information Technology and Leisure and Recreation at the Richard Huish College.

The former Hardenhuish School pupil receives cricket tuition every day from the likes of Keith Dutch and Somerset first team coach Kevin Shine and is enjoying the experience.

"We do fitness training with people like Marcus Trescothick and Andy Caddick and will do nets with them in the summer."

And Humphrys, who can also bowl leg spin, hopes to follow in the footsteps of Trescothick and open the batting for both Somerset and England.

He said: "The idea with the academy is you build up your performance over the two years and, if they think you're up to it, they will give you a contract.

"My ambition is to become a professional and to play for England."