Tom Knight could claim to be from the Yorkshire production line of orthodox left-arm spinners due to his Sheffield birthplace but his affinity has always been across the border with Derbyshire, where he developed through their academy but never broke through regularly before his release midway through the 2016 season.

He made his senior debut as a 17-year-old in a 50-over friendly against Cambridge MCCU and took 7 for 153 on his second appearance, in a three-day friendly against Leeds/Bradford MCCU before enjoying an extended run in the first team that encompassed 10 matches in the Friends Life t20 and a first-class debut against Glamorgan in Cardiff, during which he claimed his maiden first-class wickets the day after his 18th birthday. His nine wickets in t20 included 3 for 16 against Worcestershire at Derby and he finished his debut season by taking 4 for 50 in the second innings against Surrey at The Oval on his second Championship appearance.

Alongside his county success came selection for England Under-19s and while he made a good impression during a one-day series against South Africa Under-19s it came with a stark warning about his fitness levels, as a result of which he was spurred into a diet and winter training regime that resulted in him shedding two and half stones in weight before the start of the 2012 season.

Although his opportunities to progress with Derbyshire were fewer in 2012 after the arrival of David Wainwright from Yorkshire, his self-discipline in addressing his fitness issue was rewarded by selection for England in the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa. He gained regular limited-overs cricket the following year.

ESPNcricinfo staff