Jonathan Clare is an allrounder beginning to realise his considerable promise. Born in Burnley, he came through the Lancashire youth system where he played age-group cricket from Under-11s before joining the academy. Limited opportunities in the Lancashire Second XI led to a decision to move to Derbyshire.

An aggressive right-arm seamer, he played for Derbyshire Second XI for two years until his first-class call-up in 2007, and he grabbed the opportunity to take his maiden first-class five wicket haul on debut against Nottinghamshire in 2007. Clare was offered a professional contract for 2008, and enjoyed a fruitful season with bat and ball, scoring his maiden first-class hundred against Northamptonshire in July of that year. He showed his all-round value by picking up career-best bowling figures of 7 for 74 in the same game.

He was rewarded for a good season with a place in a three-week ECB strength and conditioning programme for fast bowlers in Florida, but struggled to find a place in the first XI in 2009 and 2010, when he was hampered by injuries. Nonetheless, he was offered a contract extension and rewarded the county's faith in him by combining 43 first-class wickets with 688 runs in 2011, including a career-best 130 against Glamorgan at the County Ground, batting at No 9, adding a further 30 wickets at 21.40 in the 2012 Division Two title-winning season, having claimed his first 10-wicket match haul against Glamorgan - again - in April, when he took 11 for 57.
ESPNcricinfo staff