Not many youngsters could boast a county contract at the age of 17 but Billy Godleman was an exception. In 2005, he became the second-youngest first-class debutant for Middlesex (behind his team-mate also on debut, Steven Finn), whereupon he impressed with an unbeaten 69 against Cambridge at Fenners after previously making three hundreds for Middlesex 2nd XI and earning a 1st XI call-up.

Born in Camden and raised in Islington, Godleman was identified by David English as a future England player when aged 15 at a Bunbury Festival, a testament to the hard work both he and his father - a London taxi driver - put into his development. He went on to represent England schools at Under-15s, 16s, 17s and 18s level,

He just missed out on a place in England's Under-19s squad for the 2005-06 season but when eventually selected in 2007, made his mark with an unbeaten 149 in an ODI against Pakistan - the highest Youth ODI innings for England. That summer was his breakthrough year as he made 842 first-class runs at 38.27, including a maiden century, against Somerset at Taunton. He passed 50 in his first five first-class innings. A place in the squad for the 2008 Under-19 World Cup followed.

In 2008 he could not match the tally of his debut season, scoring 736 runs at 29.44, and struggled to find a place in the Middlesex first XI the following season, prompting a move to Essex in August 2009.

Back playing regularly in the County Championship, Godleman failed to live up to his early promise and two disappointing seasons - averaging 25.86 in 2010 and 26.41 in 2011 - followed by a 2012 that began with 130 against Gloucestershire before eight innings not passing 30, saw him dropped before being released by Essex at the end of 2012.

He sought the help of freelance coach Neil Burns and found a new contract with Derbyshire - moving back to Division One for 2013.
ESPNcricinfo staff