Brad Taylor

Brad Taylor, an offspinning allrounder, became the youngest player to appear for the Hampshire first XI since 1867, playing a 40-over match against Lancashire in August 2013 at the age of 16 years and 154 days, even before he had discovered the results of his GCSE exams. He admitted to being so nervous that he did not want the ball to come to him in the field but still had the skill to dismiss the former Australian batsman Simon Katich. A few weeks later, he added a Championship debut and took 4 for 64 against the same opponents.

In 2014, he played two further first XI matches and was also picked for England Under-19s. He signed a development contract with Hampshire for 2015 and at the end of the season was named as England U-19 captain for a tour of Sri Lanka. Among his T20 opportunities in 2016 was Hampshire's memorable one-run victory over Sussex at Hove, where he went for just three runs off an intelligent over at a crucial stage. There were fleeting 1st XI opportunities the following season, but even though he was still only 20, memories of that historic debut must have left him eager for more.

He found more in 2018, enjoying a breakout Royal London One-Day campaign, contributing with both bat and ball as Hampshire took the trophy. Injury cut short his season before the start of the 2018 Vitality Blast campaign, and he impressed sufficiently for the second XI that his contract was renewed despite a quiet 2019 season.

ESPNcricinfo staff