By Dominic Farrell
England Under-19 captain Will Rhodes believes county colleague Matthew Fisher has what it takes to get to the very top of the game.
Rhodes' men claimed a third-place finish in the recent Under-19 World Cup and fellow Yorkshireman Fisher led the attack with aplomb.
The 16-year-old, who made his List A debut for the White Rose last summer, took 10 wickets during the competition and even contributed a vital 20 not out as England secured a dramatic one-wicket victoryover Australia in the third-place match.
“Matthew Fisher was fantastic all tournament,” Rhodes toldecb.co.uk. “Watching him grow up at Yorkshire has been awesome.
“I’ve seen him develop through the years and he’s got a massive future ahead of him. He’s probably the one that will go on to play for England.”
Rhodes left the World Cup with his own stock enhanced.
He impressively and calmly skippered a well-disciplined England unit and led from the front with a superb unbeaten 76 in the semi-final against Pakistan - an innings that seemed destined to book a place in the final before a dramatic conclusion at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
“It’s definitely my best England knock,” Rhodes said. “I’d been getting to 20 and 30 consistently and not going on so it was nice to go on and get a big score to help contribute to the total.
“I’d have been even more pleased if we’d have got the win. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about; I want to win games of cricket and the individual performances come second.
“I’d rather have got another (score of) 30 and won the game.”
When he returns to county duty this season, Rhodes believes his central involvement in such high-intensity cricket can only serve to stand him in good stead.
“I think those sort of pressure situations will help me massively when I go back to Yorkshire,” he added.
“Having very good lads around me like Jonny Tattersall and Ben Duckett was also fantastic.
“The lads made it easy for me to captain. I couldn’t have asked for anything more from my bowlers and fielders.”