JOSH Riggs has enjoyed a remarkable few weeks back at the crease by scoring two hundred runs for Thornbury senior teams – aged just 15!

And his siblings are not doing badly either with 13-year-old brother Alex among the wickets too.

It has left Thornbury hoping they have found another couple of bright new talents to introduce into their ranks in the coming years and, maybe, a player to follow in the footsteps of Chris Dent by making it into the Gloucestershire professional ranks.

All-rounder Josh, who had a stress fracture in his back during the winter and had three weeks out of action while having an MRI scan, decided to concentrate on his batting rather than bowling this summer and hit 92 on his return to action for Thornbury thirds against Hallan a fortnight ago, while his brother Alex took 3-16 in the match.

Not content with his chanceless performance that day, Josh added 103 for the Thornbury Sunday XI the next day Josh has been guided by coach Simon Hinks and Thornbury batsman Dan Davis, who is mentoring him, and has played for Thornbury seconds for two seasons but dad Jason, who himself hit fifty in the win over Hallen, said his son may make the first team in two years time.

Jason said of his Marwood School son: “It is a different set-up from the second team to the first team. I would expect him to be in the first team when he is 17 or 18.

“At the moment, Josh is batting beautifully. He is making it look easy and he’s a smart lad.”

Josh, who is in his third season at Thornbury, confirmed he is in the batting groove by hitting 46 in the second XI’s win over Oldlands in the Gloucestershire County League second division on Saturday. That has taken him past the two hundred runs mark in senior cricket already.

As for Alex, the brother’s father said: “He is captain of the district side, took three wickets and scored 71 and is playing well.”

With Thornbury’s pedigree of producing quality players that can go on to bigger things, then maybe the teenagers will find their way towards Gloucestershire County senior teams.

Jason added: “They could go far but whether they go all the way, I don’t know.”