FORMER Churcher’s College pupil Jack Campbell has taken the long route to play for the first team of his home county, Hampshire.

As a youngster, the tall left-arm fast bowler was spotted playing for Steep, before progressing via Liphook & Ripsley through the Hampshire age groups and Academy.

But at 18 he moved in with family in Newcastle to study sports science at Durham University

Campbell then spent four years with Durham – where he earned an England under-19 call-up against South Africa in 2018 and impressed in last season’s Royal London Cup enough to pick up a full-time contract.

In June he returned to Hampshire, and has been a starring light in the county’s perfect Royal London Cup campaign – picking up 11 wickets with an astonishing economy of just over four runs per over.

The 22-year-old said: “The last couple of months I’ve found my bowling to be the easiest and most accurate it has ever been.

“It has been helpful there is such a good atmosphere in the squad – everyone believes regardless of what happens in the first innings, we can always chase down or defend anything.

“We have scraped over the line in a couple of games, but we have never felt we will lose; it is full confidence that we will win. Everyone is enjoying their cricket and that is one of the main things in helping us keep on winning.”

Three people have been integral to his form; first up, bowling coach Graeme ‘Pop’ Welch.

Campbell said: “Pop’s changed everything for me – he’s more like a friend.

“The main thing I’ve noticed since I joined Hampshire is how happy and positive the squad is, and I think he is probably the main person who has created that environment.

“His aim as a coach is to make it easier on your body.

“He’s changed a few things, and it feels I’m not really bowling but I am still probably quicker than I’ve ever been, around 83 or 84mph, but he reckons during the winter, he could get me up to the 90s.”

Then there is first-team duo Keith Barker and Kyle Abbott, who are acting as bowling coaches for the 50-over competition.

Campbell, who went through eight weeks of injury rehabilitation before the Royal London Cup, said: “We’re lucky to have them as bowling coaches for this competition.

“Barks did quite a bit with me just as I was coming back from the injury. He played a couple of times at mid-on or mid-off and talked to me, telling me things I could try.

“In the game against Northamptonshire, he suggested how to bowl two of my balls and I got wickets from both. He is a person I want to learn from.

“Kyle has given me a lot of tips about things some of the South African batters told him he needed to do better.

“Players like those two have been good at feeding information back to us youngsters.”

Campbell played in five games, including the semi-final, to help Durham to Trent Bridge last year. But he got dropped for the final.

He said: “It wasn’t the nicest feeling because I’d played the majority of the group stage games and the semi.

“It was hard to take and made me more determined than ever. I’d love to be a part of a final and hopefully get a win for Hampshire.”

In the longer term, Campbell has his eyes set firmly on staying on the south coast.

He added: “I’d very much like to get a full contract here and hopefully break into the red ball team.

“I’ve always loved playing red-ball cricket. As a lefty, it is always a good challenge because of the luxury of swinging the ball back to a right-hander.

“I have always enjoyed that and something I’d like to play.

“Then I’d love to hopefully take part in the Hundred and franchise cricket but international is the ultimate aim.”