Emerging star Dan Redfern on cricket award shortlist

Shropshire cricketer Dan Redfern is in contention for a new award for English cricket's rising stars.

The 22-year-old, a former pupil at Adams Grammar School in Newport, is on a shortlist of six for the inaugural County Championship Breakthrough Player Award.

Redfern has been selected by a four-man panel including three former England players, Mike Gatting, Darren Gough and Vikram Solanki.

The left-handed batsman has averaged 50 for Derbyshire this season and scored his maiden First Class century.

"I changed my mindset a bit because I was struggling to carry on to a hundred once I'd got to 50," he said.

"Last year I got close with a 99 and that affected me a bit. I've just tried to carry on batting the same way once I've passed 50, whereas in the past I tried to get through the 70s and 80s too quickly and lost a bit of concentration.

His competition includes Yorkshire's Gary Ballance and Joe Root, Surrey fast bowler Stuart Meaker, Lancashire spin bowler Simon Kerrigan and Kent all-rounder Matt Coles.