Tom Alsop

Tom Alsop was earmarked from early on in his career as a future England player, but his development stalled in his early 20s as his form veered up and down while he tried to lock down a spot in Hampshire's first team.

Alsop hit his maiden first-class century against Surrey at The Oval in 2016 to encourage the belief that he could make the grade at Hampshire as a top-order batsman. His breakthrough innings was tinged with sadness as he dedicated it to his fellow Hampshire opening batsman, Michael Carberry, who had been an early influence on his development at the Hampshire academy, and who had been diagnosed with cancer in mid-season.

By then, Alsop's shift of emphasis from wicketkeeper to top-order batsman had distilled, although he did not intend to abandon the gloves entirely. He struck more than 1200 runs in all formats in 2016, being particularly productive in 50-over cricket where he averaged 54 and was called up for an England Lions tour in Sri Lanka where he and Daniel Bell-Drummond shared a record Lions third-wicket stand of 200, against Sri Lanka A, and delightedly termed themselves "Carbs' Boys"; Bell-Drummond made 100, Alsop only 96, but their promise was evident.

Alsop graduated through the Hampshire youth system. It was in May 2013 as a 17-year old when he first caught the eye when he was thrown into the Hampshire first team for 15 overs of their YB40 match against Lancashire because of a late injury to Adam Wheater. His first-class debut came against Kent at the end of 2014, as an 18-year-old, and also played in the final match in Cardiff where Hampshire clinched promotion. That summer he also impressed for England U-19s with a series of strong performances against South Africa and had further experience against Australia the following season.

Although his 2017 season started positively with an unbeaten hundred against Kent at the start of Hampshire's Royal London Cup campaign, he suffered badly for a lack of opportunity in the Championship and failed to reach 50 in five Championship games and also struggled to raise his scoring tempo in T20. There was no hundred either in 2018 as he was dismissed for 99 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. Nearly half of his Championship runs the following season came in a single innings of 150, but there were two hundreds in the Royal London Cup as Hampshire reached the final.

ESPNcricinfo staff