Potts selected for Young Lions

Promising Derbyshire bowler Nick Potts has been selected by the Young Lions for three Best v Best Matches. 

The Academy prospect, 18, has impressed when featuring in first-team practice matches at Repton School this summer, and now joins up with a number of developing youngsters in Loughborough to take part in the first of two matchdays.

Twenty-six players have been split into two squads – North and South – to compete in a three-day red-ball match which began today, while the same number of players will return on the weekend of Saturday 26 September for two white-ball fixtures.

Off the back of a summer in which several first-class County coaches have played a huge role in assisting the preparation of senior England Men’s players, that theme is continued with eight Academy Directors involved, including Derbyshire’s Head of Talent Pathway, Daryn Smit.

In total 19 players have been selected for both sets of matches – with two sets of seven players respectively picked for either the red-ball or the white-ball.

Smit is delighted that Potts has been recognised for  hard work and is looking forward to seeing the player taking his opportunity, while using the time to develop himself as a coach.

“Nick has progressed terrifically throughout the course of this year,” said Smit.

“Faced with the adversity of four months of isolation, he has used this to his benefit to come back, fresher, fitter, stronger and hungrier to succeed. This has shown in his training and performances and as a result he has been awarded the opportunity to showcase his skills amongst the best of his peers in the Young Lions best vs best matches.

“From a personal point of view, being afforded the opportunity to take charge of the North Squad in just my first year in my new role is a massive privilege that I do not take for granted. Hopefully I can continue to learn and develop new skills from those around me and make as best of an impact as I can within the Young Lions environment.”