A FOURTEEN-year-old cricketer from Monmouth has received tips from the biggest icon the sport has ever known.

Harry Hughes, a pupil at Monmouth School for Boys, bumped into Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in London.

Harry, who lives in Monmouth, was playing for Wales under-14s against Middlesex Youth last week when he spotted Tendulkar, the most worshipped cricketer in the world.

Tendulkar - the highest run-scorer of all time in international cricket - has just launched The Tendulkar Middlesex Global Academy and was a special guest at Lord’s for India’s Test match with England.

The inspirational meeting with the Little Master clearly worked for wicketkeeper Harry, who held three catches and made two stumpings as Wales put up a brave fight before losing by 31 runs to Middlesex in an exciting two-day match.

Harry, who plays his senior cricket alongside his dad Gareth Hughes for Monmouth in the South East Wales Cricket League and his junior cricket for Newport, has been in excellent form with the bat this summer.

He struck 52 for Wales under-14s against Cheshire earlier this season and has scored three quick-fire half-centuries in four innings for Monmouth seconds, including a swashbuckling unbeaten 82 against Ebbw Vale seconds.

The teenager was called up for Monmouth Cricket Club’s first team match in Division Two against Cardiff Central on Saturday (11th August) and hit 33 runs from just 42 balls, including a big six to get off the mark, in his first knock for the team.