Joshua Cobb      

Josh Cobb is an aggressive top-order batsman and occasional offspinner who hit the headlines with a memorable man-of-the-match performance in the FLt20 Final in 2011. He bashed a 10-ball 18 with the bat and took four wickets to give Leicestershire an unlikely victory over Somerset.

He cemented his place at No 5 in Leicestershire's four-day side in 2012, joining the West Indian batsman, Ramnaresh Sarwan, in a number of impressive partnerships. Cobb took over the Leicestershire captaincy in CB40 during 2012 and also twice led the team in the Championship. He was named the county's one-day and T20 captain in 2013 as well as becoming vice-captain to Sarwan in four-day cricket.

He started the 2013 YB40 campaign in exceptional fashion, scoring a century in each of the first three matches in leading the team to victories. In all, he amassed 578 runs at an impressive average of 52.54 with a strike rate of almost 114. Against Somerset, he shared a record-breaking 235 with opening partner Greg Smith on a fantastic afternoon of cricket.

Cobb also made important contributions in FL t20, including a mature unbeaten half-century in the win against Nottinghamshire. The youngster also picked up further valuable captaincy experience in 2013.

Cobb was a quick developer, making his first-class debut for Leicestershire aged just 17 and became the county's youngest century-maker when he made an unbeaten 148 against Middlesex at Lord's in 2008. He was not a regular member of the four-day side when he put in his matchwinning Twenty20 Finals Day performance but corrected that in 2012, scoring 752 first-class runs at 34.18 and recording his second century against Derbyshire at Derby in April.

His father, Russell, played at Leicestershire during the 1980s and Josh attended Oakham School, whose other cricketing graduates include current England players Stuart Broad and James Taylor and the former England women's captain, Lucy Pearson.

ESPNcricinfo staff