Dillon’s Shropshire pathway to success
Shropshire’s Dillon Pennington is relishing getting back out on the cricket field after a frustrating injury disrupted his start to the season after a jet-setting Winter, writes Steve Aston.
The fast bowler, who spent his early teenage years coming through the Shropshire Age Group pathway, returned to action helping leaders Nottinghamshire win their County Championship clash with Yorkshire at Headingly.
He claimed seven wickets in the game, bowling a mammoth 31 overs in the second innings, and chipped in with a useful 34 runs to give the England selectors a nudge.
He has since gone on to feature for Notts in this season’s T20 Blast, picking up wickets along the way.
Dillon actually made the England Test squad last Summer after a strong start to the season for Nottinghamshire before a hamstring injury effectively ended his Summer.
But he did spend time in South Africa and Australia in the Winter with the England Lions – and recently reflected on how his youth cricket in Shropshire has helped shape his career.
Dillon’s interest in cricket began as a young boy, playing in the back garden for umpteen hours with his dad Clive, who himself had represented Somerset in age group cricket.
There he honed his bowling action which developed further with good support at his Oxon Primary School in Shrewsbury, which also helped the development of Ed & Rob Foster as well as Joe Hart.
Dillon, like Ed, Rob and Joe, joined the junior section at Shrewsbury Cricket Club when he was nine where Julie Dean was a big influence on his career, picking him for the Shropshire Under 10s squad.
From there began his journey through the Shropshire age groups, starting at Under 10 right through to Under 17 and then the full County side.
When he was 11, Dillon was awarded a bursary and small scholarship by Wrekin College.
He said: “Wrekin were a massive help in both my academic and sporting development.
“I was playing or practising at least four days a week during the summer term with Steve Aston and Nick Benwell and this helped me to be selected for the Emerging Player Programme led by Luke Swann.
“At much the same time, I was selected by Paul Pridgeon for the Worcester CCC Satellite Academy. Pridge was a massive cog in my cricketing development.
“Spending numerous hours at Shrewsbury School’s Cricket Centre both Pridge & Steve were massive influences on my future career.
My Shropshire age group team included the likes of Charlie Home (the current Shropshire captain), George Hargrave and Ed Beard.
We played festivals at Malvern College, Shrewsbury School & Kings School Taunton which were all amazing and a tremendous learning experience.
“I learnt so much playing a whole week’s cricket against some of the counties best players at my age group, many who have since gone on to play First Class and even International cricket.
“Bowling at the likes of Somerset & England’s Tom Banton was a great education and challenge. I learnt most when challenged, bowling against the best batters at my age group.
“At 17, I earned a place in the Shrewsbury CC 1st Xl and was subsequently selected a year or two later for the full Shropshire team.
“I was also selected for the full Worcestershire Academy and somehow I even managed to pass my A levels!!
“Worcstershire sponsored me on a three-year Sports Studies degree at Worcester University. They were great and gave me every opportunity to play and develop my game.
“Working with the likes of Alex Gidman, Richo (dcurrent head coach Alan Richardson) Elliot Wilson (Academy Coach) and others was a great and rewarding experience.”
But he did have a few setbacks along the way
He said: “When I was 15, I just missed selection for the Bunbury Festival (I was bowling reserve). Two years later, I missed out on selection for Midlands U17s through injury.
“However, I was selected for the England Young Lions team for the U19 World Cup in New Zealand. That was another amazing experience bowling against batters from other countries, many who are now Test players.”
Dillon was considered to be one of the best pace bowlers in the competition – one of those batters, Shubman Gill, has just been selected as captain of the India team touring England this summer.
It was his performances in New Zealand which helped him earn his first full-time contract at New Road, making his debut against Nottinghamshire in 2018.
Towards the end of the 2023 season he decided to move to Trent Bridge.
He said: “It was simply a matter of wanting to better myself, to develop my game and be challenged even further. I was very happy at Worcestershire and always gave 100 per cent every game even after my move to Notts was announced towards the end of the 2023 season.”
He has settled in well at Trent Bridge where he has found a number of familiar faces.
“I was lucky that Joe Clarke was already there who I’d known from Shropshire and Worcestershire, and at the same time, Jack Haynes, who I shared a flat with, and Josh Tongue also moved to Notts.
“My game developed further working with Peter Moores (former England coach) and Kevin Shine (formerly ECB Fast bowling lead coach). It was a fresh start and yet another challenge.”
Asked about his England call up last summer, Dillon said: “It was a tremendous thrill, and both Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes were superb and the whole dressing room was very welcoming.”
He was in the squad for the first Test on the Summer against the West Indies at Lord’s – Jimmy Anderson’s final game for England.
“The atmosphere was electric, amazing, no words can really sum it up. I have subsequently worked twice with Jimmy in his then role as mentor to England fast bowlers in the UAE and he stressed to me about the importance of relaxing at the start of my run up.”
Unfortunately, Dillon suffered a hamstring injury playing in the Hundred last Summer which effectively ended his season but recovered in time to join up with the England Lions – and is hoping he may get his England chance again this Summer.
“I feel I have reached the stage I have in my career due a combination of hard work, belief in my ability and support of parents and coaches.
“The eight years I spent playing in the Cricket Shropshire pathway and EPP was an excellent grounding for my professional career.”
And he had the following advice for any young cricketers in Shropshire following in his footsteps.
“Keep challenging yourself to get better and improve your game all the time, and listen and learn from your coaches.”