The five county cricketers of the year

<p>A player can only make the list once. View the previous winners: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/99-94-cricket-blog/2024/oct/03/the-five-county-cricketers-of-the-year">2024</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/99-94-cricket-blog/2023/oct/04/the-five-county-cricketers-of-the-year">2023</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/99-94-cricket-blog/2022/oct/03/five-county-cricketers-the-year-winners">2022</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/99-94-cricket-blog/2021/oct/04/the-five-county-cricketers-of-the-year">2021</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/99-94-cricket-blog/2020/oct/06/the-five-county-cricketers-of-the-year">2020</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/99-94-cricket-blog/2019/sep/30/five-county-championship-cricketers-year">2019</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/99-94-cricket-blog/2018/oct/01/five-county-championship-cricketers-year">2018</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/99-94-cricket-blog/2017/sep/30/county-championship-cricket-players-season">2017</a></p><p>By <a href="https://nestaquin.wordpress.com/">99.94 Cricket Blog</a></p><p>At 19, after that fairytale series in India when he became the youngest debutant ever to open for England, the teenage lad with the Bolton accent and winning smile faced two of the hardest jobs you can have. First, he had to grow up in public, a task almost too cruel to wish upon any kid. Second, he became the latest vessel for the hopes of English cricket.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/99-94-cricket-blog/2025/oct/02/five-county-cricketers-year-hameed-hill-ahmed-smeed-brookes">Continue reading...</a>