The County Championship reached its conclusion today and we’ve decided to take a look at the young players who most impressed over the summer. Players aged 24 or under were eligible for selection.
Ali Orr (Sussex)
1,047 runs @ 47.59, three hundreds; HS: 198
Part of an exciting young opening partnership at Sussex, Orr put on a stand of 328 with Tom Haines against Glamorgan in the final round of the season, finishing agonisingly short of a double century, run-out on 198. At just 21-years-old, he is the only player in this side to score more than 1,000 runs across the season.
Tom Haines (Sussex)
941 runs @ 49.52, three hundreds; HS: 243
Finishing the season in style by completing two hundreds on the same day against Glamorgan, Haines followed up on his success last season where he was the leading run-scorer in the County Championship.
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
700 runs @ 70.00, two hundreds; HS: 136
A stellar year for Pope, he finished with a century in Surrey’s Championship-winning match at The Oval against Yorkshire. It was the right-hander’s 15th first-class century and second of the Championship season, brought up in typical fashion with a six over third man followed by a reverse sweep for four. In a year where he rewarded the England selectors’ decision to hand him the No.3 spot, he delivered on what he promised over his early career.
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
967 runs @ 107.44, three hundreds; HS: 194
After racking up an enormous 967 runs across 12 innings, Brook was rewarded with a well-deserved England Test debu at the end of the summer against South Africa. In a dismal year for Yorkshire, Brook has been their most positive storyline as he looks likely to have a high-flying international future.
Jordan Cox (Kent)
917 runs @ 45.85, two hundreds; HS: 158
After an eye-catching double century in the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy, Cox had a quiet year last season, averaging 27.57 in first-class cricket. He bounced back this year with two hundreds for a Kent side who eventually finished fifth in Division One. An excellent all-format summer was rewarded with a first senior England call-up for their T20Is series in Pakistan.
Lyndon James (Nottinghamshire)
890 runs @ 52.35, three hundreds; HS: 164*
A career-best 164* for James was part of Nottinghamshire’s seventh highest-ever total as they piled on the runs against Durham in the final round of the season. A couple of gritty half centuries were also key in securing hard-fought draws for Notts as the Trent Bridge side secured promotion back to Division One.
Will Jacks (Surrey)
648 runs @ 54.00, two hundreds; HS: 150*
17 wickets @ 47.00, BBI: 4-65
Not just a limited-overs specialist, Jacks’ 150* against Essex at The Oval featured eight sixes with his third fifty coming in just 17 balls. His spin bowling boosts his England Test credentials ahead of their tour of Pakistan later this winter after he started the season as Surrey’s first-choice spinner.
Liam Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire)
41 wickets @ 27.95, two five-fors; BBI: 5-54
379 runs @ 23.68, HS 54
Patterson-White played an important role in Notts securing promotion. A left-arm orthodox spinner, he was the side’s second leading wicket-taker and struck two half-centuries with the bat.
Matthew Potts (Durham)
58 wickets @ 17.87, six five-fors; BBI: 7-40
Durham’s leading wicket-taker this summer, Potts’s six five-fors helped him earn his first England selection.
Tom Price (Gloucestershire)
32 wickets @ 20.09, three five-fors; BBI: 8-27
Despite a difficult season for Gloucestershire, Price was emerged as a talent to keep an eye on. He finished up as the second-highest wicket-taker for the county despite only featuring in eight games.
Nathan Gilchrist (Kent)
33 wickets @ 27.03, one five-for; BBI: 6-61
A maiden five-wicket haul against Somerset was Gilchrist’s best return of the season. The 22-year-old ends the year as Kent’s leading wicket-taker.
