Sparrow named top young cricketer

Ludlow all-rounder Will Sparrow has won the annual BBC Radio Shropshire Young Cricketer of the Year trophy for 2009.

Sparrow 18, who follows Ludlow team-mate Ryan Lockley in winning the award, hit 550 runs and took 43 wickets in the Shropshire Premier League this season.

"It was a pretty good season, but I was still shocked to get this award," University of Wales student Sparrow told Radio Shropshire.

"It shows the club's doing something right with its youth development."

Sparrow has just started a three-year course in Cardiff and now wants to help Ludlow to gain promotion into the Birmingham League.

"That's our aim, and if we can keep the young players together I'm sure we can progress," he said.

Sparrow will receive the BBC Radio Shropshire trophy from the station's sports editor, James Bond, at the Shropshire Premier League's annual general meeting on 30 November.