YORK youngsters are trying to spin their way to success thanks to an ex-Aussie Test star.

Former Australian international and off-break bowler Ashley Mallett, who made his Test cricket debut in England at The Oval in the Ashes tour of 1968, has been coaching the cricketers of the future at Clifton Park.

The spin-bowling training sessions were down to the sponsorship of York Cricket Club by Costcutter Supermarkets, who are aiming to give youth a chance by putting on extra net sessions and a creating a centre of excellence for York's budding cricketers.

Mallett raised the profile of the art of slow bowling at sessions this week - a style that has for so long been an understudy to the excitement of pace and swing bowling.

"A lot of people don't notice how strong good spin bowlers such as Shane Warne really are," said Mallett. "You don't have to be super-accurate if you can spin the ball hard. People don't realise the strength in spin bowling, especially as Warne's arm-action is just as fast as Glenn McGrath's."

There were nine youngsters at his first session but Mallett has been very impressed with the attitudes of his young charges this week.

He said: "With the holidays there are probably kids who have gone away with their parents that would have been at the session. I would have liked to see four or five more but they have all been very attentive and they are all good chaps that are here. They are learning and listening well and I can see there is plenty of talent around the group."

Twelve-year-old Peter Barnes, from Green Hammerton, said: "It has been good fun and we have learnt lots of variations in spin."

On Mallett, he added: "He has been great. He's looked at each of us individually and given us advice on our style."

Also on the course was Tadcaster Grammar School year nine captain Richard Lindsay, who took 6-68 for Dringhouses II in their York and District Senior League division six game against Rowntree on Saturday.

Lindsay, who also plays for North Yorkshire Schools, is the York and District Schools' captain of his age group.

Updated: 11:05 Friday, June 03, 2005