Derbyshire's Fynn Hudson-Prentice determined to take second chance

The 23-year-old, who this week fell one run short of marking his first-class debut for Derbyshire with a century, began his journey back to the county circuit by playing for East Grinstead

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Derbyshire all-rounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice has revealed how club cricket helped him rediscover his love for the game after he was released by Sussex.

The 23-year-old, who this week fell one run short of marking his first-class debut for Derbyshire with a century, began his journey back to the county circuit by playing for East Grinstead.

He admits the disappointment experienced when Sussex let him go three years ago left him questioning whether he had a future in cricket.

“The feelings you get from being released are multiple and none of them are that good as I’m sure many cricketers will agree,” he said.

“You look at yourself and think 'am I good enough and where’s my head at’ which is why I had the year off because my head wasn’t in a good space.

“So in 2017 I didn’t play any Second XI cricket. I had that season where I just had to get my love for the game again. 

“I played club cricket for East Grinstead and had a good season with them. We won the Premier League and got to the National Knock-Out semi-finals. I had a good year playing with my mates and got my love for the game back.”

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Hudson-Prentice struck 99 on his first-class debut for Derbyshire - three years on from his release by Sussex

Playing for the MCC Young Cricketers brought him to the attention of their then head coach Steve Kirby, who is now assistant coach at Derbyshire.

“I met Steve at the end of the 2017 season and played a couple of games for the MCC Young Cricketers, firstly to see if they wanted me to join their programme and secondly to see if I still wanted to be a professional cricketer,” he said.

“In 2018 I played for the Young Cricketers and again at the start of this season. I played for them against Derbyshire and joined up with them after that in the second team.

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“Steve has had a massive influence on me being here I assume. He was the one who got in touch and asked if I wanted to come up and trial and I bit his hand off.

“This is a second chance to show who I am and what I can be as a cricketer so I really want to push on and try and impress. 

“That hunger and passion for the game has become larger over the last two years, especially with the work I’ve had to put in to get back to this stage of having a contract again.

“So to be able to say I’m here now and ready to keep pushing on and improving is a good testament to all the people who have worked with me over the last 18 months, so now is the time to back the belief and faith that has been put in me by Derbyshire.”

Courtesy of the ECB reporters network

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