Barney Gibson became England’s youngest first-class cricketer when he stepped out to keep wickets for Yorkshire against Durham MCCU at the picturesque Racecourse ground in a first-class match on Wednesday.
The Leeds-born Gibson at the age of just 15 years and 27 days, broke a 144-year-old record set by Charles Young, who was 15 years and 131 days old when he played for Hampshire against Kent at Gravesend in 1867.
A student at Crawshaw School, Pudsey, Gibson was given permission to take time off after being called into the team and he expertly dealt with the pace of England’s Ajmal Shahzad before taking a stunning catch in the 10th over to dismiss opener Luc Durandt off Oliver Hannon-Dalby.
“It feels excellent to have gone into the history books. I really can’t describe it. It’s such a nice feeling. I just can’t believe it has happened to me. It’s like a dream,” Gibson was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph .
