17 Year Old Cox Enjoys Superb Debut

Ben Cox, still a pupil at a Bromsgrove School, swapped his books for his bat this week as he made his debut for Worcestershire against Somerset at Taunton. Worcestershire, already relegated from Division 1, gave Ben the nod late on Monday night for the game which started on Wednesday. Ben found himself sitting alongside the likes of Vikram Solanki and Matt Mason after first choice keeper Steve Davies was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Previously Josh Knappett would have stepped in but the former Seconds captain was recently released from his contract with the Pears so young Cox, having only played 4 Seconds games, filled the breach. Ben received the news following a rugby session at his school and his involvement at Taunton means Bromsgrove 1st XV will have to play without their star fly-half at the weekend, but it is a rare honour to play first class cricket so young and nothing could have prevented the young glove-man from making the trip down to Somerset.

Cox, aged 17 and 221 days at the start of play endured a nerve-racking first day as Worcestershire won the toss and elected to bat. In at number 8, he found himself needing to prepare for his first knock as a fully fledged Worcestershire player after the 53rd over as the visitors found themselves four down. However, a fifth wicket stand of 218 between the opener Mitchell and fellow youngster David Wheeldon made Cox wait until early on day two to take his guard at the crease.

With the score on 415 Cox strode out and from there onwards he did not look back, racing to his fifty from just 65 deliveries, hitting 10 boundaries which included a pull for six. He dealt mainly in boundaries coping admirably with the threat of ex-South African test match bowler Charl Willoughby along the way. His innings was crucial in supporting Darryl Mitchell, who was closing in on a triple-century, as together they put on 124.

Eventually however Mitchell was dismissed on 298 and Cox soon followed, both bowled by all-rounder Peter Trego. Cox amassed 61 runs with 9 fours and a six having faced 116 deliveries " a dream start, but his day was not yet over.

Shortly after Worcestershire were bowled out for 571 young Cox returned, this time with his keeping gloves on. His supporters would have just hoped for a tidy display but Cox went one better than that. He made a memorable day even more special by stumping the dangerous ex-England star Marcus Trescothick for 72 off the bowling of Moeen Ali. The delight of the Cox family would have been hard to contain as Somerset finished the day on 184-3 with Cox yet to let any byes through.

The name Ben Cox is now undoubtedly one to look out for in the future as the young man proved he more than belongs in the first class environment. The Pears may choose to continue with Cox for the rest of the season as they search for a new Keeper for next year and if he replicates his form against Somerset then come next summer it might not be school cricket for him but regular first class cricket, and he will hope he can follow in the footsteps of his predecessor Stephen Davies by putting in some fine performances with the bat and the gloves.

It will be hard to remove the smile from Cox's face for a while, and Worcestershire fans will also be smiling as they have clearly uncovered a young star in Ben Cox.