Chesney Hughes confirmed his potential as one of the most promising young batsmen in county cricket in his first season with Derbyshire in 2010. A gutsy 41 on his first-class debut against the likes of Steven Finn, Tim Murtagh and Iain O'Brien at Lord's in early May hinted at his tenacity. Two weeks later, he struck his maiden first-class century against Gloucestershire in a County Championship Division Two match at Derby, reaching three figures in only his fifth Championship innings at the age of 19.

A left-handed batsman and a more-than-useful left-arm finger spinner, Hughes was born in Anguilla and played youth cricket for Leeward Islands before making his senior debut for Anguilla in the Stanford Twenty20 competition in 2006. A British passport holder, he departed for England in 2009 and after finding a place in Derbyshire's Second XI in 2009 was awarded a three-year contract with the county in June 2010.

Hughes is only the third Anguillan to play county cricket after Omari Banks and former Hampshire favourite Cardigan Connor, who recommended the teenager to Derbyshire head of cricket John Morris in early 2009 when he was playing for Fleetwood in the North Lancashire League.

After two good seasons in 2010 and 2011, Hughes endured a frustrating 2012. Derbyshire preferred Paul Borrington in the Championship side at the start of the season and the wet weather limited opportunities for Hughes to catch the eye in the Second XI. When he did regain his place in June, he lost it after just one appearance with the arrival of Usman Khawaja as overseas player.
Liam Brickhill