An elegant left-handed opening batsman who joined Durham in 2005, Mark Stoneman broke into the Durham first team at the age of 20 in the second half of the 2007 season, hitting 50 in his second match against Hampshire before making a real impression with a patient 101from 232 balls in the victory over Sussex to keep Durham in the title race.

However, his progress has been a matter of frustration for those waiting for him to fulfil his undoubted potential. He passed fifty another 10 times in the Championship before registering his second Championship century some four years after his first, in August 2011, and it was another year before he made his third. Yet his form in the Clydesdale Bank 40 in 2012 was outstanding, bringing him 558 runs at 69.75, including three centuries. His 136 not out against Scotland at Chester-le-Street is his highest score in all cricket.

Stoneman played at Under-17 and Under-19 level for England, making his bow for the Under-19s in the 2006 World Cup in Sri Lanka, although he had a miserable time, registering just 20 runs in four innings.

ESPNcricinfo staff - April 2013