Playing in same team as Afridi was just surreal

Jake Goodwin could hardly believe his luck when told he’d be facing Somerset in the T20 Blast last season. Not only was he about to make his professional debut for Hampshire, but he was in the same team as Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi.

The all-rounder impressed with a five-boundary 32 at the top of the order in Hampshire’s 181-3, before they dismissed Somerset for 98.

Selection for Goodwin, 18, was off the back of three 2nd XI centuries and he said playing alongside Afridi, who played a staggering 398 Pakistan ODIs, was a surreal experience and hopes more first-team games will follow.

“It was an unbelievable experience and an amazing feeling to play that game,” he said. “Playing alongside Afridi was surreal. He told me about making his debut for Pakistan and how he went about preparing for that, because he was so young.

“I watched him play against England for years and he’s a good role model and a great guy to have around.

“It was very nerve-wracking to go out for the first time to open, but I just tried to remember what I had done to get me there. It was scary but I’m desperate to play more next season.”

Goodwin started at club side Swindon, where he swiftly progressed from the 4th team to the first team by the age of 15, and he says those early days playing against adults had a major impact.

“When you are younger and playing men’s cricket, it is very daunting,” he said. “But I settled in quite well and that is why I got a spot at Hampshire and, before then, in the Wiltshire academy team.

“It was a good learning curve because everyone was a lot more experienced. I had to get better and work harder so my game matured much quicker.”

Hampshire may have endured a woeful 2016 but with academy players of real promise such as Goodwin, Calvin Dickinson, Ben Duggan and Josh McCoy, an injection of new blood could be the solution.

They were all snapped up on scholarship contracts in October and after Christmas fly to Durban for two months to work with former Hampshire head coach Dale Benkenstein, and Goodwin knows he needs to make his mark early.

“It is nice to see how much faith the club have in me. I have made an impact already and I want to keep making one next year,” he said.

“If we make a good early impression, hit the ground running, score lots of runs and take lots of wickets then the door could open.

“I really want to earn a development contract next season so I need to go in there and hit the ground running, both in South Africa and when the 2nd XI season starts.

“A good thing about Hampshire is that there are opportunities for young players. I did not expect to play in the T20 side so soon but the chance was there.”