HOOK and Newnham Basics' Rhodes Franklin is hoping a gap year winter playing in Western Australia, coupled with a positive end to the past summer, will boost his chance of firmly establishing himself in Southern League Division One cricket this summer.

Franklin broke into Hook’s first team last season, finishing the summer strongly with an unbeaten 43 which saved Basics (37-6 at the time) from total ignominy in Basingstoke’s promotion clinching win.

He bowled a fairly regular ten-over stint in Division One games, with a best yet 3-40 return at Liphook and Ripsley.

“I consider myself more of a short-format cricketer and want to produce more performances like that and push for a slot higher up the batting order,” the 19-year old said.

Franklin, who played in Hampshire’s Under-17 County Championship winning side in 2015, has underlined his big hitting batting capabilities on several occasions for Hook in t20 cricket.

He’s also enjoying his time in Perth, where he has hooked up with Murdoch University Melville in Suburban Turf cricket.

Rhodes added: "As everyone knows, there’s a massive difference in playing cricket out here (in Australia), but all being well I’ll benefit hugely from the experience.

“My main aim is to make a real contribution with bat and ball at Hook next summer.”