By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

BOVEY Tracey and Devon opening bowler Hugo Whitlock won’t forget his debut for Oxford UCCE in a hurry.

Whitlock, 24, marked his debut for the university side against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge with the wickets of former England duo Ben Duckett and Haseeb Hameed in both innings of the match.

Opener Duckett will want to forget his encounter with Whitlock as he was dismissed both times without scoring a run.

Duckett fell caught behind in the first innings then to a catch at square-leg in the second.

The three-day game on the Test match ground at Trent Bridge ended in a draw. Whitlock, who had bowling figures of four for 71 across both innings, said bowling against First Class professionals was an educational experience.

“It was a definite step-up from what I am used to playing, probably more so where the batters are concerned,” said Whitlock.

“As a bowler I try to bowl my best ball consistently and that had not changed much as I have moved up the levels.

“What you notice is batters like Ben Compton and Ben Slater can put 11 out of 12 shots exactly where they want them. As a bowler you can’t afford to be accurate only eight or nine times out of 12.”

Compton and Slater both made centuries in Notts’ first innings, which totalled 410 for four declared.

Whitlock said he had a number of take-aways from the game to stash in his kit bag.

“Obviously the best bit was getting some guys who have played for England while bowing at Trent Bridge,” said Whitlock.

“It made me realise the level of consistency required to play at that level – and it certainly raised my confidence levels.

“When things are not going well in future I can look back on this game at how I played as a reminder of what is possible.”