HE may have played with and against some of the finest players in the world, but former New Zealand international Jamie How believes team-mate Terry Hunte has true batting vintage.

After a slow start to the season by his own incredibly high standards, Hunte has played some important knocks for Kendal of late across all formats of the game.

And despite now being well into his fifties, he remains vital to the Shap Road batting line-up and reached 20,000 Northern League runs last summer.

How – who has a Test match average of 22.70 – is of the view that Hunte breaks many a cricketing mould and should act as a shining example to Kendal’s younger players.

“The likes of Terry Hunte come around once in a lifetime and it’s a privilege to play with him,” he said.

“It’s always enjoyable batting with him as long as he’s not trying to run me out.

“Every time he smacks one over extra cover for six I wander down and ask him to teach me that shot some day.

“He’s unique and has that West Indian flair about him and that aura and confidence. It’s a pleasure watching him play at the other end.

“I doubt the young guys know the extent to how good a player he was if he can still churn out runs like he is doing in his fifties.

“I think the young players especially will look back and feel very privileged to have played with a guy like him.”

How currently tops the Northern League batting averages, just as he did during his previous spell with Kendal back in 2012 when he blasted 1060 runs from 19 innings.

The 33-year-old currently averages 83.25 after racking up 333 runs from six innings, with his top score still the 119 made on the opening day of the season at Penrith.

Kendal travel to Fleetwood on Saturday before entertaining the Lancashire Colts on Sunday, with continued hard work the buzzword for How moving forward.

“It’s as expected really, you have your good days and bad days but things have started well and hopefully I can get on a batting roll and keep contributing to the team,” he added.

“We’re a side which is trying and battling hard and we’re going well. There are certainly no easy games in this league and we have to perform each week to get results.

“We’re not one of the teams which simply rocks up and wins, we have to train hard and do all the right things and the guys are doing that.

“We’re shaping up nicely and the team spirit is good. Stu Parkin is leading by example and the guys are following him nicely.”

And while How has contributed with the ball recently, collecting nine wickets in his last four matches, it is not a skill he likes to showcase on a regular basis.

“It’s something that if you have to do, you have to do but I don’t really like bowling too much,” he said.

“I would like to face myself but I guess it’s nice to help out, particularly if you don’t get to contribute massively with the bat.”