HAMPSHIRE head to Essex with their own reality television star tomorrow.

Forget The Only Way Is Essex.

Australian all-rounder Ian Holland was given his first chance as a professional with Victoria, his home state, after winning Cricket Superstar five years ago.

“That show brings back fond memories, I was 21 at the time and it fast tracked me towards a few opportunities,” he said.

“It was a great life experience and I got a one-year rookie contract with Victoria on the back of it.”

Australia legend Allan Border was the show’s chief judge.

“Getting an insight into cricket from him, as well as current and former Australian internationals, was one of the main reasons I went on the show," continued the 26 year-old.

“We went to South Africa to train with the Australia squad and had masterclasses from the likes of Ricky Ponting, Matt Hayden, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel and Shane Watson.”

After one Sheffield Shield experience in five years at Victoria, where he had John Hastings and Dan Christian for competition, Holland is hoping to become a Hampshire favourite like Hayden, Bichel and Watson.

Like Glenn Maxwell in 2012, he has been plucked from a club stint with South Wilts CC and impressed on debut in the Royal London One-Day Cup win against Kent at Canterbury on Wednesday.

He took 1-57 from his ten overs after an expensive first spell (4-0-31-0). “It was a really good learning experience,” he said.

“My first over went for 17 but after that it came out well. I came back with 2-40 off my last nine and played my role at the death.”

Holland, whose has a British passport through his father, learnt to play in English conditions during two seasons in the Northern Premier League.

He took 128 wickets at 12.63 for Fleetwood in 2013 and 2015, as well as scoring 1,060 runs at 39.28.

Towards the end of 2015, he took 17 wickets at 15.35 for Hampshire in the Second Eleven Championship, after being recommended by Dimi Mascarenhas.

“The connection started through Dimi,” he revealed. “He played a bit of club cricket in Melbourne, I got to know him and he contacted Hampshire.

“Giles White rang me and a couple of months into my first stint in England I played against Surrey.”

Holland responded with 128 not out against an attack included Chris Tremlett, before taking 5-37 as Surrey were beaten by an innings.

A medium pacer, he is not dissimilar to Mascarenhas.

“I don’t have the speed to rustle up batsmen, my strengths are the movement and consistency I get,” he said.

“I’ve spoken to Dimi about bowling in England and have worked really hard on my variations - you have to be adaptable."

Hampshire's One-Day Cup game against Essex begins at 11am in Chelmsford on Sunday.

Hampshire (from): Carberry, Alsop, Vince, Bailey, Dawson, Ervine, McManus, Berg, Abbott, Crane, Topley, Adams, Holland.