THE sky's the limit for Ainsworth cricketer Steven Kirby after he made a fairytale start to his career with Yorkshire.

The strapping 6ft 5ins fast bowler grabbed seven wickets in the second innings on his debut against Kent.

He has now signed a two-year contract with the county where he will be competing for a regular first team place with England stars Darren Gough, Craig White and Matthew Hoggard.

It was Hoggard's late call-up into the England squad three weeks ago which plunged 23-year-old Steven into the spotlight.

He had been working for a carpet firm prior to his debut, and brushed aside seven Kent batsmen for just 50 runs.

Steven, a former pupil at Elton High School, Bury, was professional at Edenfield last year after a four-year spell with Leicestershire whom he joined at the age of 18.

Proud parents Paul and Alison Kirby, of Broomfield Close, Ainsworth, were at Headingley to witness his amazing performance.

Alison said: "We were absolutely delighted, especially as we had been invited into the executive box to watch the game.

"The crowd really got behind him. Most spectators like to see a quickie bowl well.

She added: "His ambition has always been to make it in the professional ranks."

Steven had learnt his trade in the Central Lancashire League with Heywood, where the family used to live.

He began to raise a few knowledgeable eyebrows in his mid-teens, being part of the Bury Schools Under-15 side which won the Lancashire Schools competition for the first time in their history in the early 1990s.

Phil Young, coach of Bury Schools Under-15s and a teacher at Elton, said: "Steven always had potential and was always keen to succeed. He made it his goal to make a career from the game."