Date of birth – 3 April 1993 Nottingham

Nottinghamshire First Class Debut – 23 June 2011 v Lancashire (h)

Sam Wood was an integral part of the side which reached the NatWest Blast T20 quarter finals last year, playing ten games and contributing with both bat and ball. 

Three years previous and his first class debut couldn’t have come in more bizarre circumstances. After three days of a championship match against Lancashire at Trent Bridge in 2011, Samit Patel was whisked away to join up with the full England squad and Wood was nominated as his replacement for the final day. He was even thrown the ball for a brief, wicket-less, four-over spell.

His next outing was more fruitful. After returning from the Under 19 World Cup, where he scored 104 in a group match against Bangladesh, he was thrust straight into the Notts side for the championship match against Surrey at the Kia Oval and made scores of 45 and 2, as well as taking the wickets of Jason Roy, Gary Wilson and Stuart Meaker.

Now 22, he first proved his worth as a late call-up on the pre-season tour of Abu Dhabi and Dubai three years ago. With 28 needed from just two overs he teamed up with skipper Chris Read to launch a violent assault upon the MCC bowlers to steer Notts into the final of the Emirates Airlines Twenty20 competition.

Later that summer he made his first three appearances in the CB40 competition, claiming a couple of wickets at Old Trafford against Lancs. Further opportunities at four-day level are bound to arrive but until they do Wood has had to contend himself with runs and wickets for the second team, as well as acquitting himself in occasional one-day matches.

The left-handed batsman and right-arm off-spinner is highly regarded amongst the Nottinghamshire coaching staff and confidence is high that he will shortly be given the opportunity to fulfil his full potential.