A SEDBERGH School pupil is climbing the ranks in cricket with a double bout of recognition.

James Park-Johnson, 17, has been called up to represent Lancashire County Cricket's under 17s and has also been offered a scholarship to study at Oxford Brookes, an MCC university.

James, from Lyth Valley, also represents Netherfield Cricket Club and this weekend picked up three wickets and scored 35 runs as they beat Keswick at Fitz Park in the Cumbria County Cup.

He has been at Lancashire CC for the past five years, but this will be a big step up for James, who started playing cricket at the age of seven.

His offer to study at Oxford Brookes came after he was spotted by their head of sport at the under 17's national final where he picked up the man of the match award.

His dad, Dennis Johnson, said: "Sedbergh has opened up gates that we would never have expected."

Netherfield captain Ben Barrow said: "I've obviously seen a fair bit of him in training and he bowls very well – he's got good pace and good control and he also opened the batting.

"He's very confident and assured."