Mason’s Bell-issimo
Starlet shines for Whitburn
A SUNDERLAND youngster has been hit for six by his successful season on the cricket field this summer, writes SAM BLACKLOCK.
Mason Bell, 11, plays for North East Premier League side Whitburn and has taken more than 100 wickets and scored more than 1,000 runs in over 100 games.
The right-hand batsman is captain of Whitburn Under-11s, who this summer have won the the Durham Cricket Board North East Under-11s Division and the John Burn Memorial Cup.
Bell has also been involved with the DCB’s under-11 squad for the past three years.
The youngster follows in the footsteps of father Dave, who holds the record for the number of years he captained Whitburn’s senior team.
Mason said: “I am very pleased with the season I have had.
“In my first season as captain we won the league and the league cup and I also went on to represent the North East Premier League and Durham Cricket Board.
“Since playing from just five years old I have had lots of help from the coaches at Durham and Whitburn.
“My aim now is to continue playing for Whitburn and eventually play for England.”
Whitburn’s under-11 head coach Trevor Hearn said: “Mason has progressed well year on year.
“I first remember him taking four wickets for seven runs for our under-11s at South Hetton at the age of just five, bowling arrowstraight as he still does now. His pace has increased since then without any loss of line or length.
“Mason has always possessed a good batting technique but as he has grown his ability to score runs has increased significantly.
“Mason is in possession of both a keen cricketing brain and a clear love of the game as well as a lot of talent - we are expecting great things of him in the years to come.”