Tom Craddock starred on his championship debut for Essex at Chelmsford, helping his county gain a 171 run victory over Northamptonshire.

Having set Northants 416 to win, the home team dismissed the LV= County Championship Division 2 pacesetters for 244, with Craddock bowling a marathon spell of 30 overs, taking 4 for 70     with 8 maidens. His first scalp in first class cricket was that of former South African Test all-rounder Andrew Hall, the current Northants skipper, who was clean bowled by the 21-year-old leg       spinner. Craddock was well supported by another current MCCU player, Durham’s Tom Westley, who took 2 for 45 from 21 overs.

Essex First Team Coach Paul Grayson said ‘There were a number of pleasing individual performances from our younger players and on the final day I thought Tom Westley and Tom Craddock       bowled really well.”

This followed an amazing Second XI debut for Craddock against Sussex a few days earlier when he picked up 7 for 61 – the second best-ever figures for Essex by a second team debutant. Tom’s       two month trial with the county couldn’t really have started any better and if he maintains these performances a full-time contract should just be around the corner.

The pictures of Tom in action for Essex were taken by Nick Wood of Unshaken Photography, who run various courses in all forms of photography. See more about Nick & Unshaken at www.unshaken-photography.co.uk.

Note that the umpire on this picture is another former Leeds Bradford player – Ismail Dawood!