IT IS impossible not to be impressed when you first meet 16-year-old James Iles, the Maidstone Grammar School pupil and fast bowling protégé who has become Kent’s youngest ever first-class cricketer.

Within 48 hours of making his county bow to break a 104-year record, Iles had returned to his GCSE cramming and giving further proof that his is a wise head on young shoulders.

Tall, upright and yet to grow into his wiry frame, Iles possesses an easy run up and compact bowling action that looks as natural as could be. So much so, you sense he could readily run up and bowl his medium-paced seamers when blindfolded.

He said: "The key for me is having an easily repeatable bowling action and to keep on putting the ball in the same spot.

"I have an idea in my mind of how I want to be, so I try an mould myself into the mental model that I have of an ideal seam bowler.

"There isn’t any one bowler I try to copy, but I do admire Andrew Flintoff. It’s not necessarily his action or how he delivers the ball as a bowler, but I do admire his explosive nature at the crease and the effect he can have on a game, which are amazing."

Iles has received a host of messages and cards following his debut, but his feet are now back firmly on the ground and his mind set on exams and then a busy summer of cricket.

Iles added: “I’m going for England Under-17 trial matches at Bradfield College and after that I join the Kent Under-17 set-up for their series of two-day games.

"I’ll be playing for Lordswood in the Kent League and by the end of the summer I hope to have had the odd three-day game for the Kent 2nd team.

"I’m just hoping I can go on from this debut, keep working hard and become the first-class cricketer I really want to be."