YOUNG Chepstow cricketer Tom Smith is facing an exciting six months after signing a two-year professional contract with MCC.

Eighteen year old Tom is currently playing in New Zealand, where he scored 31, took three slip catches and then added three wickets for just three runs in 10 deliveries, to help his club Onerahi Central win and go top of the 50-overs table.

When he returns in March, he will be off to the United Arab Emirates with the MCC Young Cricketers for a fortnight's warm-weather training prior to the start of the cricket season.

A former century-making opening batsman with Chepstow CC, Tom has played Second XI cricket for Gloucestershire for the last two seasons.

Speaking from his temporary home in New Zealand, Tom said he was looking forward to taking the same early steps with the MCC Young Cricketers as were taken by Australian Test captain Michael Clarke, India's Rahul Dravid and England's Freddie Flintoff and Sir Ian Botham. 

"Signing for the MCC young cricketers is something I have been working towards since half way through the season," he said.

"My head coach at Clifton College, Paul Romaines contacted Mark Alleyne, MCC head coach and managed to help me sign.

"I scored 61 and 73 not out for Gloucestershire 2nds against MCC Young Cricketers in the last game of the season for Gloucestershire.

"This opportunity allows me to still be involved with Gloucestershire but to also be in the eyes of all other county sides.

"My contract starts with a two-week pre-season tour to Abu Dhabi where we play Middlesex, Sussex, and possibly Yorkshire."

While in New Zealand, Tom is sharing a house with four other cricketers and trains every day under the experienced eyes of Stephen Cunis and Neal Parlane and also earns a wage coaching younger players.

"I paid for the flight to New Zealand with help from the Tom Maynard Trust and the link with Northland was set up because two of Gloucestershire CC's coaches are from that club.

"It is a learning experience that has been offered to me, the opportunity to play cricket in another country at a high standard is great!

"The surfaces are so different – harder, faster and flatter. They are very quick wickets."