Jonathan Clare

Jonathan Clare was described by one observer of the Derbyshire cricketing scene as "one of the great unfulfilled talents of the cricketing age" when he was released by the county at the end of the 2015 season.

Regarded, in the East Midlands at least, as a potential England allrounder, Clare showed flashes of great ability, but was bedevilled by injury.

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.

He announced his arrival with five wickets on his Championship debut against Nottinghamshire at Chesterfield in 2007 and impressed the following season at Northampton, when he scored an unbeaten 129 and took 7 for 74 in the first innings.

He was rewarded for a good 2008 season with a place in a three-week ECB strength and conditioning programme for fast bowlers in Florida, but it was to prove the peak of his recognition as injuries clouded his next two seasons.

Nonetheless, he was offered a contract extension and rewarded the county's faith 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, and added 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