Dan Lincoln

Dan Lincoln, a hard-hitting batsman from Berkshire, raised eyebrows when he signed for Middlesex ahead of their 2019 T20 Blast campaign. It was not so much that he appeared to be something of a late starter in signing his first deal aged 24, but more to do with the second string to his sporting bow as a goalkeeper in non-league football.

Lincoln admitted that he never took cricket seriously as a viable career path, and signed for Reading FC's academy as a 16-year-old. But he continued to play Minor Counties cricket for Berkshire on the side, and when he made an unbeaten 121 from 40 balls trialling for Middlesex's 2nd XI, they decided to start keeping close tabs on him. He made his professional debut as a late replacement for AB de Villiers, no less, and despite an underwhelming first Blast season he was given another deal for 2020.

He continues to play non-league football, leaving Bognor Regis Town at the end of the 2018-19 season and spending the following season at Hampton and Richmond Borough, then Hayes and Yeading. He was a sub fielder for England during the 2019 Ashes Test at Lord's.

ESPNcricinfo staff