TEENAGE pace ace Cole Hayman has become the latest in a long line of Burnley cricketers to get a shot at county cricket and fulfiled a dream at the same time after Lancashire signed the 19-year-old on scholarship terms.

Hayman, who is the fastest bowler in the Foster’s Lancashire League and helped Burnley to their stunning Worsley Cup final win over Haslingden last season, follows in the footsteps of club chairman Michael Brown, his brother David, Jon Clare, Vishal Tripathi, Jon Harvey and England superstar James Anderson from Turf Moor into the county game in recent years.

And the offer of a deal with the Red Rose persuaded Hayman to turn down fellow county side Somerset, who had been tracking the promising seamer.

“It looked like he was going to Somerset but as soon as Lancashire showed their interest Cole had his heart set on it,” said his dad David, himself a former Lowerhouse and Burnley bowler.

“We met with Peter Moores and they really want him on board and he is made up with it.”

Hayman has claimed 71 wickets in a relatively short Lancashire League career but has grown in stature and developed a reputation of ferocious pace and bounce.

He had spent the winter playing club cricket in New Zealand and helped his side Hamilton to Hec Holland Plate one-day cup glory earlier in the season after returning figures of 4-21 off 10 overs in the rout of Hamilton Boys' High School.

Depending on his Emirates Old Trafford commitments, Hayman may still be able to turn out for Burnley when the new season starts next month.