Wisden overview
Rikki Clarke made a seamless transition from Surrey's second team to the firsts. He won a 2nd XI Championship medal in 2001, and picked up a Division One winners' gong the following year. Born in Essex but brought up in commuter-belt Surrey, Clarke made an immediate impression with the first team, cracking a century on first-class debut against Cambridge UCCE, and shortly afterwards adding a majestic 153 not out against Somerset at Taunton. Tall and well-balanced, Clarke is strong off the front foot, with a classy straight-drive. With the ball, it's like watching a video of Martin Bicknell bowl, even down to the floppy hair - although Clarke is a little inclined to overdo the short stuff. Clarke won the Cricket Writers Club's prestigious Young Cricketer of the Year award in 2002, and was almost immediately called up for the Champions Trophy tournament in Sri Lanka, and returned to the one-day squad after the World Cup. Steven Lynch

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