Tom New began playing for Nottinghamshire at Under 11 level and represented the Midlands from Under 13 through to Under 15 level. In 2000, he was the England captain for the Under 15 World Cup and took his side to the semi-finals before they were beaten by Pakistan.

The promising wicket-keeper switched to Leicestershire and played for the county’s Under 19’s Cricket Board and second XI. He was part of England’s squad for the Under 19 World Cup in Bangladesh in February 2004 and made his first-class debut in May 2004 when he played in a four-day tour match against New Zealand, taking three catches. Tom featured again for the Under 19 side against the touring Bangladeshis in 2004 and played several games for the Leicestershire first eleven in 2005.

Tom would be an ideal speaker to young, potential cricketers on how to make it as a first class player.