Tim Linley

Tall seamer Tim Linley was a graduate of the MCC's UCCE programme and represented British Universities in 2004. He joined Sussex for the 2006 season but after playing just one match, against Sri Lanka, he was released and headed northwards to Surrey. It took him some time to establish a first-team place, but he survived Chris Adams' clear-out and in 2010 began to find more opportunities on offer as Surrey rebuilt their standing in the domestic game. In a squad packed with pacier talent, Linley's metronomic accuracy was easily under-rated, but he underpinned Surrey's promotion-winning campaign in 2011 with 73 first-class wickets at 18.34. While he struggled to hit those heights afterwards, Linley remained a model of consistency. Surrey had snazzier fast bowling models and sometimes seem unusually hasty to drop Linley in spite of his fine record, but all could learn from his undemonstrative consistency. His lack of pace and variety proved a hindrance in limited-overs cricket.

ESPNcricinfo staff