Alex Wakely

A correct, upright batsman, Alex Wakely has been in and out of the Northamptonshire side but shown flickers of a determined style at the crease.

Wakely was educated at Bedford School and played Minor Counties cricket for Bedfordshire. He made his debut for Northamptonshire Second XI as a 15-year-old, making two half-centuries, and was tipped for big things from an early age.

An Under-19 call-up followed for the tour of Sri Lanka and Malaysia in 2006/07 and he impressed with an innings of 108 off 140 balls.

Wakely made his full LV= County Championship debut for Northamptonshire against Somerset in July 2007, scoring 38 and 66, and taking the wicket of Marcus Trescothick.

Brought into the first-team in 2008, Wakely made 53 against Essex in Northants’ opening championship match of this season, but struggled with a wrist injury and his own form and was unable to get his place back.

Wakely hit consecutive scores of 44, 57 and 64 in his final Under-19 games for England against New Zealand later in the season.

His 2009 season began in record-breaking style, smashing 189 not out for Bedfordshire in an MCCA Knockout Trophy game, which allowed him to win back his Northants spot.

A maiden first-class century, which saved the match against Glamorgan at Cardiff, promised much, as did a half-century versus Australia, but a number of single-figure scores followed.