Harry the latest on Shropshire pathway to success
A recent round of County Championship games saw a First Class debut from young Shropshire seamer Harry Darley.
The Oswestry and Shrewsbury opening bowler got his first four day call up from Worcestershire and found himself playing alongside fellow Salopian Jack Home against a Durham side including England skipper Ben Stokes.
And the pair shared a notable 10th wicket partnership in Worcestershire’s first innings which saw Shifnal’s Home score his maiden senior half century and then go on to dismiss Stokes in the Durham reply.
The pair are the latest on an ever-growing list of players who have come through the Shropshire Age Group pathway and gone on to play county cricket.
They were both in action for their Shropshire clubs in the Birmingham and District League over the Bank Holiday weekend, Harry for Shrewsbury and Jack for Shifnal.
In the same round of Championship fixtures, Shifnal’s Mitch Stanley was playing alongside James Anderson for Lancashire against at Old Trafford.
Over at Trent Bridge, Oswestry’s Joe Clarke scored a century for Nottinghamshire against Surrey while at Edgbaston Shrewsbury’s Ed Barnard is captaining Warwickshire this season.
Former Wrekin College and Shrewsbury seamer Dillion Pennington has also appeared a number of times this season for Notts.
It is not just in the men’s game that Shropshire age group graduates are prospering.
Eve Jones continues to score runs heavily at the top of the order for Lancashire Women whilst Lauren Kenvyn has been playing for Derbyshire.
Emily Churms and Amy Griffiths are on the books at Worcestershire whilst last season Caitlin Belcher was a regular in the Gloucestershire Women’s team.
Cricket Shropshire’s Pathway and Coaching Manager Ed Ashlin said: “Congratulations to Harry on his well-deserved First Class debut.
‘It is fantastic to see so many crickets who have come through the Shropshire Age Group pathway going on to play county cricket.
“It is a reward for all their hard work and dedication to the game and also shows that there is a clear pathway from starting your cricket journey playing for your local club as a youngster to the First Class game and even – who knows – England.
“It is also testament to all those who work hard within our Age Group system year in, year out, providing youngsters with the opportunity to develop their full potential.
“We all look forward to seeing what Harry, Jack and all the others go on to achieve in the game and wish them all the best.”