The rising star turned 17 yesterday and is one of the most experienced members of Britain's 112-strong squad in Australia.

 

It was also further recognition after a successful year which resulted in Drinkhall being nominated for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Award, missing out to Arsenal forward Theo Walcott.

 

Drinkhall, from Loftus, North Yorkshire, represented England at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne last March, established himself as the British number one and rose to seventh in the junior world rankings.

 

The ceremony took place at the Sydney Entertainment Centre and included representatives from all 21 countries and nations taking part in the five-day event comprimising 1,600 athletes competing in 16 sports.

 

"Holding the flag's a big honour and leading Team GB out into the arena was an amazing feeling," he said.

 

"When it was action and everybody came in it was a great experience.

 

"I went to the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and that was massive. The opening ceremony to that was just amazing, but I wasn't carrying the flag there so this one's right up there with that."

 

Earlier, in matches played before the opening ceremony, England's young hockey players enjoyed a satisfying double over China.

 

The men won 3-0 with goals from Darren Cheeseman, Hardeep Jawanda and Ashley Jackson, while the women triumphed 4-1 with Charlotte Craddock, Charlotte Hartley, Hayley Brown and Sarah Page hitting the goals.