Oxford batsman Simon Hole has been getting plenty of stick after taking over as Banbury's groundsman.

But provided his pitches are up to scratch, he says he is happy to shrug off the banter.

Hole, 23, has been working for his club's Oxfordshire rivals at White Post Road this summer and is ambitious to progress further as a groundsman.

Speaking as his latest pitch saw Oxon and Cheshire do battle, Hole said: "I worked in the University Parks for four years and just fancied a change.

"I heard a job was going at Banbury and applied for it. I've been here for four months now.

"I get a bit of stick from both sides, but at the end of the day I'm just trying to produce the best pitches I can.

"Apart from last Saturday, which wasn't good for Banbury, I think I am doing ok.

"To get 700 runs in the first two innings here was better than I was expecting, but very pleasing."

Hole played on a wicket he had prepared at Banbury when he opened the batting in Oxfordshire's loss to Shrophsire last month.

"I was out here at 8am getting it all ready and then I was back out again for the warm-up," he said.

"It was a long day, but there you go."

How did he become a groundsman?

Hole said: "I did my A-Levels, but didn't really fancy going to university.

"I was playing at Marston Sports Ground, which is owned by the university and they said there was a groundsman's job going.

"I used to help my dad Les with the pitch at Freeland, so I thought, 'I'll go for it'.

"It was only supposed to be a stop gap for a few months."

He added: "I had a good mentor at the Parks in the head groundsman Dick Sula.

"He has prepared pitches that have won awards for the best in the country.

"He was a good role model for me and got me started.

"Hopefully he would be pretty pleased with the pitch for this match."

Hole would like to work at first class ground.

"If I do the work and do it well, then it gets me recognition," he said.

"I've just got to put the effort in and do things right."

Hole has been out of action recently with two hand injuries.

"Since I have been out, Oxford have gone from strength to strength," he joked.

"Hopefully I will back playing this Saturday, but it will be hard to force my way back into the first team because they are doing so well."