Hampshire’s player pathway and Academy system has produced many of the Club’s current crop of first team players, such as Club captain James Vince, Chris Wood, and more recently, Joe Weatherley, Tom Alsop and Lewis McManus.
With this year’s LV= Insurance County Championship and Vitality Blast group stages concluded, we’ve seen some of Hampshire’s rising stars feature throughout both campaigns, and the upcoming Royal London Cup offers the perfect opportunity to see these ‘young guns’ perform on the county stage.
See below for a bio on Hampshire's rising stars, including information on their role, playing style, progression and best performances to date.
Scott Currie
DOB: 02/05/2001
Playing Role: Bowling All-rounder
Style: Right-handed batter/right-arm bowler
BBI: First Class - 4-109 (May 2021) | T20 - 4-24 (July 2021)
A tall, competitive seam-bowler who has the ability to score quick runs down the order.
Scouted following professional football trials with Bournemouth, Currie joined Hampshire at 16 years old during the winter trials after being picked-up through Dorset Cricket. The tall seamer impressed with his flowing and consistent bowling action, progressing immediately into the Academy squad after showing his determination and professional approach to both training and matches.
Improving year-on-year, Currie began to play in Hampshire’s Second XI and got picked in England’s Under-19 squad, where he impressed during their tour to the West Indies in December 2019 and their World Cup campaign in early 2020.
After a successful time with England’s Under-19s, the bowling all-rounder returned to Hampshire and got his chance to play in the First XI during the behind-closed-doors 2020 season in both the County Championship and Vitality Blast campaigns.
This season, the 20-year-old has again enjoyed time in the First XI, registering his best first-class figures of 4-109 against Surrey in their LV= Insurance County Championship fixture at The Oval in May, before featuring in the Vitality Blast, taking three four-wicket hauls against Surrey and Somerset (home & away), including best T20 figures of 4-24 against Somerset at The Ageas Bowl in July.
Tom Prest
DOB: 24/03/2003
Playing Role: Top order batsman
Style: Right-handed batter
HS: T20 - 59* (July 2021) | 2nd XI Championship - 303 (May 2021)
A top-order batsman who plays the ball late with Robin Smith-like fast hands through the ball.
Prest joined the Club’s pathway system from Dorset, after which he immediately started playing Under-17s cricket at just 14 years old.
With the knack of hitting the ball cleanly with fast hands through an exceptional hitting zone and displaying a calm temperament at the crease, the right-handed batsman consistently registers big scores, whilst his off-spin bowling is developing nicely.
The 18-year-old has impressed in both Hampshire’s Academy and Second XI sides recently, with a highlight of his 2021 season being the a huge triple century he registered against Sussex Second XI in May, scoring his career-best of 303, just hours after sitting his Geography A-Level exam at Canford School.
Tom has since been given opportunities in the First XI, including a vital LV= Insurance County Championship group stage fixture against Gloucestershire, which saw Hampshire progress to Division One as a result. Prest has also been an important part of the Vitality Blast side, hitting an unbeaten 59 against Gloucestershire to help Hampshire Hawks to their first T20 win of the season in July.
Fletcha Middleton
DOB: 21/01/2002
Playing role: Middle order batsman
Style: Right-handed batter
HS: 2nd XI Championship – 132* (Sept 2019)
A classy technician who looks set to deliver on early promise.
Fletcha appeared a star from a young age, first featuring in Hampshire’s Under-14s side, before progressing quickly into the Under-17s and Academy teams at just 15 years of age.
The right-handed batsman has played in the club’s Second XI for quite some time and found his calling in the summer of 2019, scoring a pivotal unbeaten century (132*) in the side’s Second XI Championship Final.
Furthermore, Middleton was selected as the best batsman in the country from ECB Lions Super 4s, where the best Under-17 cricketers from around England & Wales gather.
The son of former Hampshire cricketer Tony Middleton appears to have a bright future ahead.
Toby Albert
DOB: 12/11/2001
Playing Role: Top/middle order batsman
HS: 2nd XI T20 - 105 (June 2021)
A 360-degree shot-player at the top or middle of order who can find gaps in the field in an unorthodox way.
The right-handed batsman from Berkshire joined Hampshire’s Academy after a few seasons playing in the Southern Premier Cricket League with Basingstoke & North Hants CC and scoring centuries in the county Under-17s competition.
The right-handed batsman had troubles with injury, undergoing a serious knee operation before coronavirus lockdown began; however, with determination to bounce-back, Toby successfully completed his rehabilitation throughout lockdown.
This season the 19-year-old has registered some stellar performances in both Hampshire’s Academy & Second XI sides.
In the Academy he scored 151 against Bashley in a Southern Premier League match in June, before smashing 137 off 62 balls in the second round of the T20 competition in July. For the Second XI, Albert has performed against both red and white ball with 93 scored against Middlesex in the Second XI Championship in April, before a quick-fire century came against Sussex Second XI in the T20 competition in June, scoring 105 off just 60 balls.
Royal London Cup
Hampshire's upcoming Royal London Cup campaign provides the perfect opportunity to see these rising stars perform on The Ageas Bowl stage.
Catch Hampshire in action in cricket's original cup as they look to reach their third consecutive 50-over final, starting at The Ageas Bowl from Thursday 22nd July against Essex Eagles.
All home Royal London Cup fixtures follow 19th July's easing of coronavirus restrictions, with tickets available to purchase at the cheaper, advance rate until the day before the match.
Follow the links below to buy tickets or to find out more information about the competition.
