FORMER Denstone College student Hamza Siddique is flying to Australia as he prepares for a cricket-packed winter playing for Melbourne.

And the 18-year-old batsman has set his sights on breaking into the Derbyshire first team on his return to England next spring.

Siddique, from Kingsley Holt, has played for Derbyshire Academy and second XI this summer as well as representing his age group at Midlands level. Now, the Cheadle player has chosen not to attend university with a mind set firmly on making it at the top.

He said: "I am now at the age where cricket is vital in terms of my development and after a very successful season for Derbyshire I have a number of opportunities.

"I'm looking forward to learning more about myself, becoming more independent and coaching youngsters. Also, playing regularly will aid in developing my own game."

Last year, while a pupil at Repton School Sixth Form, Siddique, pictured, broke John Howell's 94-year record for the highest innings with a huge 207no.

He also scored 131no against the MCC and captained the 1XI to the National Twenty20 Championship. So far, he has notched up 31 centuries in his fledgling career, including knocks of 113 and 153 for Derbyshire Academy.

This season, Siddique also made his county 2XI debut against Warwickshire, hitting 47no. He also hit 53 against Durham 2XI in the final game of the year.

Siddique, whose boarding school commitments limited his appearance for NSSCL Division One outfit Cheadle this year, reckons the benefit of experience in Australia is "potentially huge".

He explained: "Firstly, due to the aggressive and direct attitude, I will have to learn to be more clear about my own game – there is no alternative when you are under a pressured scenario.

"Secondly, rather than being surrounded by both the support of my parents and by the teachers at boarding school, moving to the other side of the world will unquestionably aid me in learning more about myself."