CRICKET-MAD Danny Thexton is the demon bowler of Esh Winning - even though he is only five years old. He was bowled over when he was asked to make up the numbers for his local village cricket club's under-15 team.

Danny was even more thrilled when the skipper asked him to bowl what turned out to be the last over of the game, as visitors Mainsforth eased to victory. But there was a sting in the tail. Danny shocked the Mainsforth team by taking a wicket, with a stumping, and only conceding four runs.

Danny has not stopped talking about his bowling feat, and can hardly wait until he can play for the club's under-13s team.

Danny, born into a cricket loving family, could be destined for great things, even beyond Durham County League standard. His dad, former Crook and Esh Winning batsman Steve Thexton, is so confident of his son's ability that he has placed a £10 bet on Danny to play for England before the age of 20, at odds of 1000-1.

"He was only three at the time, but he was already mad keen then. It was just a bit of fun and who knows if he'll still be as interested in ten years? He's never away from the ground just now."

While Steve, 45, now concentrates on umpiring, the family, who live 200 yards from the village ground, is steeped in cricket. Danny's mother Caroline makes the teas at Esh Winning and is a former first team scorer. That's how Caroline met Steve when the club was playing Crook.

Her dad, Ray, is Esh Winning treasurer and league umpires' secretary, while mother Mary has been umpiring for 15 years.