Callum Parkinson

Although less heralded than his twin brother Matt, Callum Parkinson has quietly forged an encouraging start to his career, particularly in the shortest format. A tidy slow left-arm bowler who can also hold a bat, Parkinson quickly became a mainstay of Leicestershire's T20 side after joining in 2016, combining thrift with wicket-taking ability and the confidence to bowl with a new ball during the Powerplay.

Leicestershire signed Parkinson from Derbyshire on a two-year contract after impressed against them in his debut Championship season - he took 11 of his 14 wickets against the Foxes. The decision looked a good one as he showed up well in five Championship matches - including taking eight wickets in an innings against Worcestershire - and handled the pressure of a full T20 Blast campaign. He became arguably the club's most consistent bowler in T20, helping them to reach the Blast quarter-finals in 2017 and 2020, and was named club vice-captain at the end of the season.

He responded to that elevation with the best red-ball season of his career in 2021, claiming 50 wickets at 29.04 including ten in the match in an innings win against Gloucestershire, as well as more consistent displays in the white-ball team.

The Parkinson twins played their club cricket at Urmston in the Cheshire League and became the first twins to represent Staffordshire in 2015. They also spent time at the Lancashire academy before Callum decided to follow his career elsewhere.
ESPNcricinfo staff