Rising star Jack Shantry is hopeful he can become the latest member of the family to make it as a professional cricketer after catching the eye of Worcestershire.
The Shrewsbury allrounder’s dad Brian used to play for Gloucestershire and his elder brother Adam is currently with Glamorgan, his third First Class county.
Now 20-year-old Jack wants to follow in their footsteps, ideally with Worcestershire, having impressed in a Second XI Championship game last week.
Handed his second appearance by the New Road club, Shantry, who is a regular in the Minor Counties under-25 side, guided the Pears to an emphatic victory over Leicestershire at Himley.
He took a stunning 7-34 from 16.1 overs in the second innings, his victims including his Shrewsbury captain Ed Foster, who top scored for the Foxes with 48.
“It was one of those days when everything went right for me,” said Shantry.
“I beat the bat a lot when I’m bowling for Shrewsbury but this time I had a bit of luck and the other lads held onto the catches.
“I had mixed emotions about getting Ed out as I wanted him to do well and get some runs for Leicestershire.
“But it was nice to get him as I’ve never got him out before in the nets so it was a prized wicket for me.”
Shantry was asked on Saturday night to turn out for Worcestershire’s second string once more in a game currently being played against Surrey, but had already committed himself to playing for Shropshire in their Minor Counties Championship victory over Herefordshire.
But he’s confident more chances to impress will come his way on the back of last week’s heroics with the ball.
“After the game Damian D’Oliveira, the second team coach, told me they had five or six contracted seamers looking for a game so they get priority,” he said.
“But hopefully I’ll get more opportunities and I’ve had one good performance so they know what I can do.
“It’s going to be tough as it’s notoriously difficult to get a contract there, but if I keep doing well then hopefully I’ll give them a tough decision to make.
“Playing second XI cricket is a great shop window and you never know which other counties could be interested.
“And I definitely want to be a cricketer, it’s 100 per cent what I want to do, and I’ve just got to continue to work as hard as I can.”
Shantry first came to Worcestershire’s attention when Steve Rhodes, the club’s first team coach, invited him to take part in a pre-season training session in which he pitted his wits against the likes of England stars Vikram Solanki and Simon Jones.
He made his second XI debut in an early season clash against Lancashire but then had to concentrate on his exams at Manchester University – he’s doing a degree in English language – before getting the call to play last week.
Shantry also has high hopes he can help Shrewsbury push for promotion from the Birmingham League’s first division, having helped the London Roaders climb into the top half of the table with a man of the match display in last weekend’s astonishing 10-wicket win at county rivals Wellington.
“When we’re in top form there’s no team better than us in the first division,” he said.
“Ed is a fantastic captain and Reece O’Connell’s doing really well for us again.
“A lot of very good youngsters have come through the ranks and we’ve got a very strong squad.”
Shrewsbury welcome back skipper Ed Foster, who was on Leicestershire duty last weekend, and batsman Mark Lascelles for Saturday’s trip to Harborne – who are likely to include ex-New Zealand Test star Ian Butler.
Rob Foster and James Gale, who both have university exams, are the men to make way.
SHREWSBURY: E. Foster, D. Rees, R. O’Connell, J. Shantry, W. Merrick, D. Manders, S. Barnard, T. Somerville, J. Brydon, E. Green, M. Lascelles.
