Horton gives Lancs a boost

4:24pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Lancashire batsman Paul Horton continued his fine run of County Championship form on the first day of the Old Trafford clash against Hampshire yesterday.

Horton, the 25-year-old Sydney-born opener, notched his seventh fifty of the LV Division One campaign to lead his side to 261-5 at close on a rain affected opening day.

He hit 66 off 105 balls, including 12 fours, while Lou Vincent and captain Stuart Law also hit 58 and 51 respectively.

Apart from Hampshire’s debutant Pakistani leg-spinner Imran Tahir’s 4-80 from his 31 overs, the LV Division One’s basement side looked completely void of any firepower.

England pair Chris Tremlett and Dmitri Mascarenhas were far from their best – and young seamer David Balcombe claimed the only other wicket to fall.

Horton has now scored 727 Championship runs this term, with two hundreds to boot, and he later admitted that an England Lions winter spot is in his thoughts.

“I would be lying to you if I said I haven’t thought about it,” he said.

“I think everybody thinks about the next level, how to get to that next level. “Playing for the England Lions or going on the Academy is the next step for me. Whether that comes this year or whether it comes ever, who knows? I can’t control that.

“What I can control is scoring runs for Lancashire and doing well. If my performances warrant a call-up, then great. If not, I will go on holiday.”

Horton’s holiday remark was more in jest than anything else. He will take some kind of break after another successful season, but he is already making alternative cricketing plans in case the international call does not come.

“I am trying to play some first-class cricket, whether that be in New Zealand or South Africa,” he added.