Jim's grandfather was the second Dr Who

"I was better at cricket than acting," he recounts.

"Though until the age of 12 I was more into football. Then my older brother went along to nets at Stratford-upon-Avon Cricket Club and I decided to join him.

"If I'd become an actor then there'd have been some weight of expectation on me, but although my father played club cricket to quite a high standard, it was never his profession.

"And entertaining people is an integral part of playing cricket; it�s still a stage, but as a batsman, if I fluff my lines then I get forced off into the wings.

"I still visit the theatre regularly and the family does charity recitals at Stratford's Swan Theatre each Christmas."

Though initially a slow left-armer, Troughton soon developed a likeness for batting: "I was picked for England U15s principally as a spinner and bowled regularly until I was about 17. But I always found the thrill of scoring runs, of hitting boundaries, took preference and my bowling faded for a while."

Woolmer rates Troughton's multi-dimensional play

It's coming back a little now, although his two overs against Worcestershire cost 17 runs.

"It was certainly a baptism of fire, but the chance to bowl at Graeme Hick on 189 was something that I couldn't turn down."

Indeed, it's Troughton's all-round ability that particularly interests Warwickshire director of cricket Bob Woolmer: "He's a three dimensional cricketer, the sort that are freely available in the southern hemisphere, much less so in the north.

"His batting is somewhere between measured and exciting, but he plays each ball on its merits, can bowl and is a brilliant fielder in the Jonty Rhodes mould, with a good arm and great catching ability."

Certainly Troughton's first innings of 27 against Worcestershire lived up to Woolmer's claims, as the youngster played straight, watching the ball onto the bat.

After hitting three fours he edged one from Alamgir Sheriyar and was caught at slip.

Hick was in full flow when Troughton bowled to him

"Beforehand, I'd have taken that score, but once you're in the middle you never like getting out."

Having spent last winter in Bloemfontein, Troughton will return to South Africa for six months this autumn, playing in Cape Town and coaching for Avondale.

It'll be a chance to improve his bowling: "I've hardly bowled at all this season so I do need to practice - it adds another string to your bow and helps get your foot in the door for selection."

With Warwickshire boasting several good youngsters and competition for batting places quite fierce, Jim Troughton will need to maximise all three dimensions of his game to become a first team regular.

But that's still one dimension less than his grandfather Patrick used as Dr Who.