Harry Dearden

Harry Dearden, Leicestershire CCC’s opening batsman, a brilliant young batsman, with a bright future. This is an article looking at his past, present and future, a full report into the talented opening batsman. Dearden scored his half century came early in the 2017 season, as he battled hard against a strong Glamorgan side. He scored it in front of his home crowd, at the Fischer County Ground, Grace Road. Dearden fought hard, facing 211 balls, a show of the metal and the concentration Harry has. 

Dearden was born in Bury, Greater Manchester, and came through the ranks at Lancashire. He played for Lancashire up until the Lancashire under 17’s and into the Lancashire second team. Throughout his time at Lancashire, Harry enjoyed a lot of success playing in the Lancashire Premier League for Ramsbottom, and in the Northern Premier League for the Lancashire Cricket Board. During his season at Ramsbottom CC, aged just 16 years old, Dearden scored four fifties at ECB Premier League level. While playing for the Lancashire Cricket Board, Harry Dearden once opened the batting with close friend and now Leicestershire team mate, Callum Parkinson. Harry played twice in the Northern Premier League. He went on to play for two years in the Cheshire Premier League for Hyde, as well as making the Cheshire, Minor Counties team in the Unicorns Championship. For Hyde, Dearden found his feet in the Premier League, in his first season for the club scoring over 1,000 runs, scoring two centuries, and six half centuries. 

His first class debut, he played against Derbyshire, aged 19, he faced tough competition, and struggled with the bat. This will not stop the tenacious Harry Dearden, he came back fighting in the 2017 County Championship season. He performed well against Derbyshire, he scored 46 in the first innings and then 78 in the second, a brilliant performance early on in the season. Harry is a solid batsman and builds an innings. In August 2017, Harry Dearden played for the second eleven, against Marylebone Cricket Club Young Cricketers, in a three day game, and he batted brilliantly. He smacked 141 runs from just 173 balls, hitting 23 boundaries along the way and scoring well for Leicestershire second eleven. In the second innings of this game, Harry scored 42 runs from just 39 balls, hitting a huge six and 6 fours. The future is bright for Harry Dearden, he will only get better and it is clear that he has a serious amount of talent, and it will only improve. I am looking forward to seeing the inevitable progression of Harry Dearden in the near future, as he draws closer towards that maiden first class century. Dearden was educated at Tottington High School. Harry comes from a cricketing background, his father Stephen Dearden was a talented cricket also, an all rounder, that played for the Lancashire Cricket Board. Dearden senior, played List A, minor counties as well as ECB Premier League cricket, his most recent List A scores being, 48 and 67 not out, proving what a talented player, Harry’s father, also was. 

Harry Dearden was a junior and began his career at Woodbank Cricket Club, a club that he played for while representing the Lancashire Cricket Board, throughout the age groups. In 2012, Harry Dearden received a call from David Graveney, the England selector, and he invited Harry to join the England emerging players programme. The hard working batsman’s family and friends will have been very excited when Dearden received the recognition he deserved. Harry Dearden has a massive future in the game and will be a prominent player for Leicestershire throughout the years. The hard working opening batsman will keep showing his metal and tenacity every time he bats for Leicestershire County Cricket Club. Thank you very much for reading this article, much more where this came from, and be sure to check out our quick fact videos on our YouTube channel. Keep your eyes peeled for more about talented and promising young cricketers.