Recordo Gordon

Born in Jamaica, Recordo Gordon moved to the UK with his family when he was seven and, after impressing as a fast bowler for Handsworth and Moseley in the local leagues, was identified as one to watch by Warwickshire aged 15.

Signed by the club in 2011, he suffered a stress fracture that ruled him out of the 2012 season, but made his first-class debut in 2013. He continued to progress in 2014, claiming four second-innings wickets (including Compton and Trego) to help Warwickshire to victory over Somerset and, granted extra opportunity due to an availability crisis, performed admirably in the limited-overs sides. He played six of Birmingham's NatWest Blast T20 games as they won the title - including a spell of 3 for 18 against Leicestershire - and five of the Royal London One-Day Cup games, impressing with his pace and control.

There were blips. As well as whispers over the legality of his bowling action refusing to completely disappear, he learned a tough lesson about death bowling in a match against Nottinghamshire. Asked to bowl the penultimate over, what should have been his final delivery was a no-ball (it was a chest high full toss) that was hit for six. It was the second no-ball of the over and may well have cost his side the game. Nottinghamshire, with nine wickets down, subsequently won from the final delivery.

He was released at the end of the 2016 season.
George Dobell