Franco's journey from Buttler wannabe to Glamorgan spinner

Young spinner Romano Franco has made a rapid rise to Glamorgan's One Day Cup side

Three years ago Romano Franco was an aspiring wicket-keeper/batter who had England white-ball captain Jos Buttler as his role model.

Now the 18-year-old is preparing to bowl left-arm spin for Glamorgan against England Test players at the Oval.

It is quite the turnaround for Franco who signed his first professional contract while waiting for his A-level results.

Within a few days he had made his Glamorgan first-team debut against Hampshire at Neath, and could get plenty more chances during the One Day Cup.

"It was brilliant, I absolutely loved it. All the lads made me feel great, and although it would have been nice to get over the line, it was great to be part of, and overall I'm very happy," Franco told BBC Sport Wales.

"It was lovely the way the crowd encouraged you."

After making a tidy start with the ball, Franco came under fire - along with most of Glamorgan's bowlers - later in the Hampshire innings but was not short of support.

"He was impressive since you can be a bit nervous in a first game in front of a good crowd," said coach David Harrison.

"He handled himself really well and deserves an opportunity, and hopefully it's the start of a long journey with the club."

Speaking of journeys, there have been a few long treks between north and south Wales for Liverpool-born Franco, who got into cricket around the age of nine at his local club Buckley, near Wrexham. Then after two years at Hawarden, he moved on to Northop.

Among Glamorgan players from north Wales in recent years have been all-rounder David Lloyd, who captained them before joining Derbyshire late in 2023, and fast bowler Roman Walker, who moved to Leicestershire.

"It's a long drive, there've been some really early mornings with my mum and dad who've been a massive help and without them I definitely wouldn't be in the position I am today," Franco said.

"The past year has been building my love for the game and now I'm loving it more than ever."

Harrison acknowledged that Franco and his parents "have made a lot of sacrifices in the last year or so" travelling to games and training, adding: "But it's always great to see young players coming through, especially Welsh players for Glamorgan."

After coming into Glamorgan's second team in 2024, Franco has been a regular this season and got the first XI call because regular spinners Mason Crane and Ben Kellaway were both picked by the Welsh Fire franchise in the Hundred, which runs alongside the One Day Cup.

So how did the change from would-be Buttler come about?

"It's only three years ago that I dropped the gloves, and it turned out to be the right decision," Franco recalled.

"I came down for a Wales trial, (coaches) Mike Clayden and Darren Thomas saw me bowl in the nets and said I had to leave the gloves behind.

"That season I played for Wales as a bowler at under-16s, and it's been all about the bowling for then on. Richard Almond, Ted (Thomas) and Clayden were the main three coaches that helped."

After having Buttler as his hero growing up, he now has Australian spinner Nathan Lyon as a model as he prepares to take the field against Surrey at the Oval - a grander stage than the homely surroundings of Neath.

"Hopefully I'll pick up my first wicket in the next game, pick up good figures and contribute to the team winning matches," Said Franco.

"I can't wait for the Oval, hopefully I'll bowl at lads like (Surrey's England Test players) Rory Burns and Ben Foakes and test my skills out against them."

Sandwiched inbetween the Surrey and Gloucestershire games will be the little matter of learning his A-level results in biology, maths and chemistry.

Success there will see him study at Cardiff Met University - ideally placed to develop his cricketing skills and collect a degree over the next few years while waiting for more senior opportunities.

He and the club hope it will be a road to success, while cutting down the hours on the road for his parents.