• Registered: 05-11-2009
  • Posts: 4,297

Topic: Teenage batting Successes

It sometimes takes a long time for batsman to make it in first class cricket.And by make it I would suggest an arbitrary benchmark of a first class average of over 35.

In the last ten years I can think of only two players who were with Sussex at 19 and went on to achieve that career average...Yardy and Nash.Both took some time to achieve that standard. Many many others did not make it even after years of trying. (Heather,Turk,Hoppo, etc ,I am sure you can name more).We have four or five(Thornley,Wells,Gatting,Machan and Brown) young batsmen starting that journey now.

I started to think how many 19 year olds are an instant batting success? ie immediately average over 35 and dont look back? I am thinking Jos Buttler and Chesney Hughes but maybe even Bedwetter.Did we ever have one like that? Possibly Brown?

Can you think of others?

Last edited by triple century (01-09-2010 12:46:48)

  • From: The corridor of uncertainty
  • Registered: 27-04-2005
  • Posts: 3,717

Re: Teenage batting Successes

Sheppard and Dexter?

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  • From: Sussex, living in Surrey
  • Registered: 05-10-2006
  • Posts: 3,633

Re: Teenage batting Successes

Paul Parker ?

http://www.cricketarchive.com/Sussex/Pl … eason.html

  • Registered: 05-11-2009
  • Posts: 4,297

Re: Teenage batting Successes

3rdman wrote:

Paul Parker ?

http://www.cricketarchive.com/Sussex/Pl … eason.html


Exactly my point...even Paul Parker was into his third full year(and 22) before averaging 30.

  • Registered: 29-05-2010
  • Posts: 2,247

Re: Teenage batting Successes

triple century wrote:
3rdman wrote:

Paul Parker ?

http://www.cricketarchive.com/Sussex/Pl … eason.html


Exactly my point...even Paul Parker was into his third full year(and 22) before averaging 30.

Which means he was a regular from 20 onwards, and although he wasn't fantastic to start with he turned out damn good.  I would argue that was in part because he was given his chance pretty early, and was stuck with.  I'd like to see a bit more of this from Sussex.

Re the original point, what about Prior?  I think Hales and Taylor may come into that category you mention too.  But yeah, there's rarely many.

Let's hope for Brown eh!  Wells could be in that class from what I know of him.

  • From: United Kingdom
  • Registered: 27-08-2004
  • Posts: 3,447

Re: Teenage batting Successes

Kepler Wessels and Javed Miandad played for Sussex as teenagers and turned out rather well.

  • Registered: 08-04-2007
  • Posts: 4,102

Re: Teenage batting Successes

triple century wrote:

It sometimes takes a long time for batsman to make it in first class cricket.And by make it I would suggest an arbitrary benchmark of a first class average of over 35.

In the last ten years I can think of only two players who were with Sussex at 19 and went on to achieve that career average...Yardy and Nash.Both took some time to achieve that standard. Many many others did not make it even after years of trying. (Heather,Turk,Hoppo, etc ,I am sure you can name more).We have four or five(Thornley,Wells,Gatting,Machan and Brown) young batsmen starting that journey now.

I started to think how many 19 year olds are an instant batting success? ie immediately average over 35 and dont look back? I am thinking Jos Buttler and Chesney Hughes but maybe even Bedwetter.Did we ever have one like that? Possibly Brown?

Can you think of others?

I think it is unfair to catagorise Hopkinson as Hoppo was a capped player however the other two who clearly weren't up to the mark.

Prior and Ambrose were given their opportunity at 18.

Nash was actually 21/22 when he joined Sussex as he went to Loughborough University.

Thornely, Wells, Gatting, Machan and Brown are all youngsters with little or no first team experience and are 22 or under. I would be concerned if they were 26/27 and still not producing the results.

Buttler, Hughes, Taylor, Vince, Wood, Dawson, Briggs and Hales show it is possible for youngsters to flourish in the county IF GIVEN AN EXTENDED OPPORTUNITY IN THE 1XI!

The key is not only giving these youngsters an opportunity but sticking with them even if they go through a difficult patch and not dropping them after 1 or 2 games.