Miles Hammond

Not since 1937 had Cheltenham College witnessed a hundred for Gloucestershire by a batsman called Hammond when the revered England batsman, Wally, helped himself to 178 against Worcestershire. In 2018, 81 years later, Miles Hammond, no relation but Cheltenham-born, struck 103 in front of a delighted Festival crowd in only his fourth first-class appearance.

In so doing, Hammond, an elegant left-hander who started out as an offspinner, became only the third Gloucestershire player to convert a maiden fifty into a maiden hundred. It was made all the more remarkable because this was his first championship opportunity for three years, his debut having come in 2013 when he was a 17-year-old pupil at St Edward's School, Oxford.

Hammond's positive approach also enabled him to play several successful innings in Gloucestershire's top order in the T20 Blast as 2018 brought him decent rewards across all formats.

Hammond developed through the Oxfordshire youth system. His offspin was respected enough to tour South Africa with England Under-19s at the start of 2013. That summer he made his Gloucestershire debut in a 40-over match at Headingley and claimed Gary Ballance as his first wicket; his first-class debut followed a few days later against Glamorgan at Bristol. The following winter he was part of England's Under-19 World Cup squad, playing one match as England finished third.

ESPNcricinfo staff