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CRICKET: Brooks in Surrey chance
Jack Brooks is going all out for a professional contract after being selected for Surrey's 2nd XI.
The 23-year-old Oxford paceman is this week playing against Somerset 2nd in a four-day game at Taunton.
And he feels if he is to make a living from cricket, now is the best chance.
Brooks's call-up comes after he was watched by Surrey bowling coach Geoff Arnold in a pre-season game.
He said: "After that guy came last week I didn't think I would get a game straight away.
"I worked hard over the winter, particularly on my fitness, and it's all coming together now.
"If it happens it would be great. I'm always trying to improve my standard.
"If it is going to happen, it will be in the next couple of years."
Brooks was a key player in the Oxford side that won the Home Counties Premier League Division 1 title last year.
He now looks to have won a regular place in the Oxfordshire side, so can he go further in the game?
"This is my first shot at the first class game," said Brooks.
"It has only happened in the last year or so.
"At the moment, it is a trial game, but we'll see how it goes.
"I think Surrey are quite a difficult team for seam bowlers because the Oval is such a hard wicket.
"You have to be a certain type of bowler."
Brooks, who works as sales rep for Apem in Thame, is looking to follow in the footsteps of Warwickshire-contracted bowler Stuart Hole.
"He is a good friend and we keep in touch a lot," said Brooks.
"He played against Surrey for Warwickshire 2nd last week, so we almost got to face each other.
"He is from the same club and an opening bowler and it shows that with a bit of commitment, something extra can happen.
"Hopefully I can do what Stuart has."
Brooks claimed two wickets in Oxford's opening day victory over Slough and did the same for Oxon against Cheshire on Sunday.
He said: "I want to try and get 30 wickets this season. I would have got that last year if it hadn't rained as much.
"However, I don't look at stats that much. I will take it game by game.
"The plan this year was to try and impress for Oxfordshire and hope that might lead to chances with first class counties."
Stuart Hole took 4-36 as Warwickshire 2nd beat Surrey 2nd by an innings and six runs at Cheam.
4:54pm Tuesday 13th May 2008
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