Vote for Miles as LV= Breakthrough player
7 August 2015
Gloucestershire’s Craig Miles is one of six players on the shortlist for the LV= Breakthrough Player award which recognises emerging young talent in the County Championship.
The 20-year-old seamer has been nominated along with Jack Leaning (Yorkshire), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Tom Curran (Surrey), Luke Wood (Nottinghamshire) and Alex Davies (Lancashire) after taking 36 wickets in nine matches this season.
The shortlist was selected by an expert panel which included ECB Performance Director David Parsons, former England batsman Mark Butcher and Ex-Australia bowler and current Yorkshire coach, Jason Gillespie.
Craig, who made his debut for the county in 2011 while still at college, said he was delighted to be nominated.
He said: “It was great to find out I am one of six players on the shortlist. There are some big names on the panel and it is nice to think that people like that view me as a good young player coming through.
“Obviously my first year was a big breakthrough but this has also felt like a breakthrough year in terms of being more consistent and taking on a bit more responsibility in the bowling group with senior players like Will Gidman and Ian Saxelby not around any more.”
The 2015 LV=CC Breakthrough Player will be decided by the public, who can vote for their winner at www.LV.com/cricket.
Previous winners included Yorkshire and England’s Joe Root who picked up the inaugural award in 2012.
Craig – who is one of only five players in the country to have taken three or more five wicket hauls in the Championship this year – said he would love to follow in the batsman’s footsteps.
He said: “I have been lucky enough to be involved in the England Development Programme over the last two years and that has definitely helped me progress. I would love to progress into a Lions Squad and eventually play for England but I don’t set any goals I just try to keep focusing on doing my job and trying to win games for Gloucestershire.”
Craig credits Richard Dawson and Ian Harvey with aiding his development this year and also praised his fellow bowlers for helping build pressure as an attack.
To listen to Richard Dawson’s view on Craig’s form this year watch the video below (filmed prior to the home game with Essex).
As well as the initial six, two more players will be added to the list in August to cater for anyone who has a good run of form in the next few weeks.
ECB performance director David Parsons said: “These six players have all made a positive impression in the LV= County Championship this season, and shown that they may have the potential to play at a higher level – as well as making a significant contribution for their counties. Watching the emergence and development of these players is one of the features of the Championship.”
Craig Miles is sponsored by Miles' Marauders
