Kiran Carlson enters the record books after first-class century and five-for
Tuesday 13 September 2016 13:19, UK
Glamorgan all-rounder Kiran Carlson created history on Monday by becoming the youngest player in English county first-class history to record a century and collect a five-wicket haul.
The Cardiff-born Carlson, who only made his debut at the end of August against Northamptonshire after impressing coach Robert Croft with some fine performances in the second XI, could barely have believed his mesmeric rise into the record books.
Carlson, who was just 18 years and 119 days on Monday, marked his debut at Wantage Road two weeks ago by snaring the free-scoring Ben Duckett for his maiden first-class wicket on his way to 5-28 from 14 overs of off-spin.
But to follow it up with an incredible century, especially coming to the crease against a rampant promotion-chasing Essex bowling line-up at 34-4 in the 15th over, is something of a fairytale.
A product of Cardiff Cricket Club, Carlson became the youngest first-class centurion for Glamorgan, surpassing Mike Llewellyn's effort in 1972 at Swansea against Cambridge University - he was aged 18 years and 214 days.
The youngest centurion for Glamorgan in the County Championship was Matthew Maynard back in 1985 against Yorkshire at Swansea, when he was 19 years and 156 days.
But the right-hander went one better by becoming the youngest player in English cricket to clock up a ton and a five-for, going past Frank Chester's 103-year mark for Worcestershire, which has stood since 1913.
Off-break bowler Chester took 6-95 against Kent at Amblecote when he was 18 years and 140 days and then, 17 days later, the right-hand batsman hit Somerset's bowlers for 115 at Worcester.
Carlson beats his mark by 37 days with an unbeaten 101 from 195 balls at Chelmsford to join his Northamptonshire five-wicket haul.
Surrey's Jack Crawford claimed a five-wicket haul when he was 17 years and 265 days against Somerset at Taunton in 1904 but had to wait until the following season when he was a veteran of 18 years and 256 days before he clocked up his maiden first-class ton - 119 not out against Derbyshire.
And Dipak Patel, who went on to have a highly successful international career with New Zealand, hit 107 for Worcestershire against Surrey in 1976 when he was 17 years and 270 days - but his five-wicket haul didn't come until 1978, a 5-22 against Sussex at Eastbourne, aged 19 years and 284 days.
Carlson's record stands alone in the county game although the great WG Grace can claim to hold the record overall in England - given he scored 224 not out for England v Surrey in 1866 - his maiden first-class ton aged 18 years and 12 days which came after his 8-40 when he was 16 years and 339 days for the Gentlemen of the South against Players of the South in 1865.
Whichever way you look at it, the young Welshman will certainly be a proud man when he returns to the crease.
