SOME cricketers thrive on pressure - and 18-year-old Read skipper Will Driver is one of those.

The Lancashire Academy star took the helm at Whalley Road over the winter after a phenomenal 2006 campaign, which yielded over 1000 runs and 33 wickets.

The young all-rounder landed an unprecedented double last season - the Ribblesdale League player and young player of the year awards - and began this campaign with a ton in the opening day defeat to champions Clitheroe.

The responsibility of captaincy could be too much for some teenagaers, but Driver is relishing the prospect of leading Read and is hoping the experience will help him in his quest to become a county cricketer.

He said: "There is a bit more pressure on me but I think I perform better under pressure.

"I enjoy captaincy. I've done it for Lancashire and I think I can make a difference.

"But I'm lucky in that I've got a lot of experienced players in the side like Nick Marsh and Warren Eastham who I can turn to if I need advice."

And the young skipper need look no further than Read's paid man, Kenyan international Thomas Odoyo, for advice and inspiration.

The all-rounder arrived in the Ribblesdale League fresh from his World Cup expolits in the West Indies and Driver is hoping to learn from the vastly experienced 28-year-old.

Driver added: "Thomas is a really good lad and I'm looking forward to him doing well.

"He's a match-winner and capable of producing a moment of magic when it's needed.

"I can learn a lot from him. He's got international experience and he'll be able to talk things through with me and I'll be able to pick up tips on preparation and things like that."

The 18-year-old is getting better with every passing season but he certainly won't be resting on his laurels as he tries to make the grade at Old Trafford.

A superb 109 not out, albeit in a losing cause, is proof if any were needed that Driver has a mature head on young shoulders.

And he's hoping to follow in the footsteps of another Read star by making his mark with the Red Rose County.

He said: "Oliver Newby is doing really well for Lancashire and he's someone I look up to.

"He's proved that you can do it and I'm hoping to follow in the same path. When he can play for Read, he'll be a massive boost.

"He did really well in the first Championship game so we might not see a lot of him.

"But without him, we have a good side. We should have chased down Clitheroe's total on Saturday.

"I did pretty well for the first game of the season but I would have given that up for us to have won the game.

"We lost our pro to a dubious LBW decision and I think that probably Josh Marquet was the difference between the sides at the end of the day."