David Balcombe

David Balcombe was a bustling fast bowler who made his name with a loan spell at Kent in 2011, when 33 wickets at 17.81 saw his parent club Hampshire wake up to his talent. They hoicked him back and Balcombe became a central figure in their attack. But the success was short-lived and he moved to Surrey before retiring halfway through a two-year deal to work with Kevin Pietersen's foundation.

In 2012 it seemed as if Hampshire had discovered their attack leader as he took 59 Championship wickets, the best return in Division Two, including 8 for 71 against Gloucestershire - the best figures ever recorded at the Rose Bowl. But he couldn't sustain it in a hot 2013 far more favourable for batting, and played only four games in 2014, where he took four wickets.

Balcombe is a graduate of Durham UCCE, for whom he took 5 for 112 against Durham in 2005, and it was playing for them where Giles White spotted him and brought him to Southampton. He made his first-team debut in 2007 but his career never really got going and a back injury in 2010 stalled any progress. But loaned out to Kent his talent shone through.
ESPNcricinfo staff