CHORLEY ace Tom Smith is hoping to build on his 2009 performances and further enhance his glowing reputation this season – and is now determined and focused in his aims to cement his spot in Lancashire’s County Championship side.

The 24-year-old won many admirers last season with both bat and ball, averaging more than 40 in the one-day game but a shade below 20 in the Championship.

And while he is pleased with his career progress so far, Smith is equally aware that competition for places at Old Trafford means he cannot rest on his laurels if he is to continue the rise to the top of the game.

And now the former Chorley star, whose brother Billy still plays in the Northern League for the Windsor Park outfit, is ready to battle new signing Stephen Moores for the opening berth.

“I would love to open in the Championship,” the six-foot three-inch Smith said.

“Steve Moores coming in will only add to the team but I would like to press forward as an opener because I know I can do a good job there.

“But then again I am quite flexible and really I just want to cement my place in the team.

“With Steve and Paul Horton, we do have a strong order and it is down to me to kick on and make it a difficult decision by putting on the pressure to earn an opening sport.

“I had a good season last year, especially in one-day cricket but I do have a few things to work on in the four-day game and that’s just what I have been doing over the course of the winter.

“Like all players I want to score runs and take wickets – and I want to do it in both forms of the game.”

Smith received the NBC Denis Compton Award for the most promising Lancashire player in 2005 and 2006 and made his Red Rose debut came in 2005, but he is now determined to make 2010 his year.

“I look upon myself as a senior player now,” he added. “And it is up to me to perform well enough to make sure I can’t be left out.”

Smith’s hard work included playing in Australia with the Sydney-born Horton this winter as the pair turned out for Gosnalls cricket club in Western Australia.

“It was a good winter,” he said. “I changed a few things bowling wise and also tried to build on the batting platform I set last summer.

“I have been out to Australia a few times now and I find it works for me to improve my game and I am hoping that this winter can help me.

“Horts was the skipper and we were quite a young side and got thrashed about a bit.

“So I got called upon to bowl more in tough circumstances and that can only improve me.”

And playing under Horton Down Under has given Smith an idea about his opening batting partner and the future.

“You never know how long Chappy (Lancashire skipper Glen Chapple) will play on for,” he said. “But Horts did well as skipper.

“He is cricket astute and has a great brain and I think he would do a great job in the future as skipper.”