Dan Redfern, a left-handed batsman and occasional offspinner, was beginning to hear the phrase "unfulfilled talent" more often than he would like by the time he left Derbyshire for Leicestershire at the end of the 2013 season amid mutterings about a lack of discipline on and off the pitch. A change of county failed to bring the surge in form many had hoped for and he was released two years later.

Redfern came through the ranks at Derbyshire to make his Second XI and first-team debuts within the space of two months in 2006, gaining his call-up to the senior side to face Worcestershire in the Pro40 against Worcestershire. From the start, he possessed a graceful cover drive but it was also a shot that often brought about his downfall.

He earned a call-up into England Under-19s in 2007 for their series against Pakistan, and retained his place for a tri-nation tournament in Sri Lanka and the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia in the winter that followed, scoring three half-centuries in 50-over matches. The following summer, he made an outstanding contribution to the two Under-19 Tests against New Zealand, scoring an unbeaten 151 as England won the first by an innings and 79 not out in the second innings as the second Test finished in a draw.

His international form earned him a breakthrough with his county, for whom he became a first-team regular as a 19-year-old in 2009, hitting five half-centuries and scoring 668 runs at an average of 30.36. His progress stalled somewhat but 2012 was much better as he began by making his maiden first-class century - against Northamptonshire - on the opening day and went on to contribute 792 runs to Derbyshire's Division Two title-winning season at 37.71, with a second century -- a career-best 133 against Hampshire - and five other 50s.

ESPNcricinfo staff