South Africa gives 'Hoops' chance to get serious

A 'ONCE-in-a-lifetime opportunity' awaits David Hooper next month, as he jets out to South Africa for a two-week training camp with the Sussex Academy.

The 21-year-old Guernsey Cricket Board community cricket coach will be in Cape Town with the county academy side to observe and hone his skills against top cricketing schools from the country.

'Hoops', the young island player, was quick to enthuse about the prospect of heading to the African nation.

'I can't wait to get going, being able to travel to a top cricketing capital and then see how a first-class English county gets their young players from Academy XI cricket into the first XI.'

But he's quick to point out that it is more than just drawing a comparison between Guernsey and Sussex cricket.