Harry Dearden

Leicestershire signed left-handed batsman Harry Dearden on a contract for the 2017 season after he impressed for the club's second XI. Born in Bury, Dearden progressed through Lancashire age-group sides. Leicestershire blooded him in two late-season Championship matches in 2016, his debut coming against Derbyshire at Derby. A further 10 Championship matches followed in 2017, but brought only two half-centuries and he needed an operation on a cruciate ligament that he ruptured while fielding. He recovered quickly enough to feature regularly in the Championship in 2018, and was a virtual ever-present the following season, playing in all but two of the club's games across the three formats.

He failed to kick on despite some impressive 50-over form in 2019, as he averaged a shade under 20 in the Championship and scored at a strike rate of just over 100 in the T20 Blast. In 2020, he found himself tweeting an apology to the club's supporters following an innings of 36 not out off 32 balls from No. 6 in a T20 against Derbyshire, which saw Leicestershire fall five runs short of a target of 148 while only four wickets down. The following summer, he lost his Championship place after a quiet start to the season.

ESPNcricinfo staff