Shropshire Star

A talented former Shropshire junior cricketer will make his international debut tonight - for Wales senior football team.

Oswestry’s Boaz Myhill is expected to be included in John Toshack’s starting line-up for tonight’s friendly in Luxembourg.

The 25-year-old, who was brought up in Weston Rhyn where his parents still live, began his football career with Aston Villa and is currently with Hull.

And, with the Tigers battling for a promotion to the Premier League and an expected international debut tonight, Myhill is enjoying the dream campaign.

“It’s been a hell of a season for me. Hull have a more than decent chance of winning promotion to the top flight, and now Wales have given me this chance,” he said.”It has all snowballed in the past few months, so now I aim to take advantage of the opportunities that have been put in front of me.”

But it could all have been so different for Myhill who was regarded as one of the county’s top cricketing prospects during the late 1990s.

He played junior cricket for Oswestry up to second XI level. His off-spinning all-rounder talents were also recognised by Shropshire, for whom he represented at age group levels through to under 16s.

“I have never seen a kid turn the ball as an off-spinner as much as Boaz,” said Shropshire Cricket Board administrator Steve Aston.

“He had hands like buckets and was a great slip fielder as well and I’m sure he would have played at Minor Counties level at least.”

Oswestry Cricket Club spokesman Mike Robinson added: “Boaz was very talented and is the only 11-year-old I know to have hit the ball over the old Oswestry pavilion.”

Myhill is following in the footsteps of Shrewsbury’s Joe Hart, who was also an outstanding junior cricketer.