A YEAR after securing the unlikely draw that inspired Hampshire’s Great Escape, Lewis McManus will need no introduction to Durham this weekend.

Recalled to Hampshire’s Championship team for the first time since his heroic rearguard denied Durham at The Ageas Bowl last July, McManus is set for a long run behind the stumps after replacing Adam Wheater as first-choice wicketkeeper.

After coming in on his home debut with Hampshire 39-5 in their second innings, McManus showed his appetite for a scrap with an unbeaten 53 against Durham 12 months ago.

He batted for more than 50 overs before Hampshire hung on for a vital draw on 179-9.

It was a result that breathed life into Hampshire’s season and McManus’s defiance was the catalyst.

Now, after playing his first Championship match since then against Somerset this week, the 21 year-old is hungry for more.

“I’m trying not to think too far ahead, I’m just taking each ball on its merit and am really enjoying being out there with the guys playing first-class cricket,” he said, after rain helped Hampshire avoid a defeat that gives them hope of beating the drop again.

McManus, the son of former Swanage Town footballer Andy, took up cricket less than a decade ago at Broadstone CC, near Poole.

“Cricket was something to do in the summer while football wasn’t on but I found I really enjoyed it," he explained. "Before I knew it I wasn’t playing as much football.

“I was 13 when I started keeping. I bowled a bit when I was very young but took the gloves in a training session and it went from there.

“It was a good decision because I’m not tall enough to be a bowler! As a keeper I’m always in the game, I love to be involved.”

McManus progressed the Dorset’s age group sides before joining Hampshire aged 16.

Working with former Hampshire gloveman Bobby Parks and watching Michael Bates played a big role in McManus’s development.

“Bobby is the first coach I’ve worked with specifically on keeping, he’s brilliant at pushing me through and developing me.

“And Batesy was a brilliant guy to watch, especially standing up to the seamers, which you don’t do a lot of as a youngster.

“Batesy was a great role model, definitely one of the best I’ve seen, a great keeper.”

Bates was controversially released in 2013 because his batting was deemed not good enough.

But McManus has impressed with the bat, as well as with his glovework, after making his debuts in both limited-overs formats this year.

A 22-ball 28 against Gloucestershire in his maiden 50-over innings and a 35-ball 41 as a T20 opener against Surrey are two of his season’s highlights.

“It’s been a big privilege to play with big names like Darren Sammy, Shahid Afridi and some of our own successful one-day cricketers,” he said.

“It’s not something I was expecting but my one-day cricket’s improved so I was delighted to get in.”

Results have not made it easy for McManus to make the step up, but he believes they will soon change for the better, as they did a year ago.

“It’s not down to a lack of trying, it’s just a matter of getting a win and before you know it you don’t look back. We believe we’re very close to getting on a run.”