Sanderson, 19-year-old seam and swing bowler, was called into the Yorkshire side for his County Championship debut against Durham yesterday.

He delivered a maiden in his first over and by lunch his seven overs had come at a cost of 21. After the break Durham's Australian captain Michael Di Venuto hit him for 32 in five overs as he reached an unbeaten 184. Durham closed on 337 for six.

Many of Sanderson's teammates from the South Yorkshire League club were at Chester-le-Street yesterday along with his father Roy, long-time Whitley Hall stalwart, and mother Tracey.

"Naturally, we're very proud but not just us, the whole club," said Roy. "He's come through the system at Whitley but it's also great for the Sheffield and District Cricket Coaching scheme that runs in Sheffield because that helped Ben and what's happened to him should help inspire other young cricketers that they can achieve too."

Sanderson, a former Ecclesfield School pupil, who played through Whitley's age group set up and progressed into the first team (alongside his dad), was awarded a scholarship at the Yorkshire Academy and is now a first year professional.

"What has done him a lot of good is the winter training and conditioning programme Yorkshire have put him through - he went into that a teenager and has come out a man and seems to have added a yard of pace," said Roy.

Sanderson, from High Green, went with Yorkshire on their trip to Abu Dhabi in March, played in some one-day friendlies back here and has come to the fore after impressing through his performances for the 2nd XI this season including catching the eye of Darren Gough when the Yorkshire skipper played for the Seconds.

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