Kent bowler Matt Coles is among the shortlist of six players in the running for the inaugural LV= County Championship Breakthrough Player Award.

The award is being launched by LV=, the title sponsor of cricket’s County Championship, and aims to celebrate the most promising young player in the county game this season.

Coles’ competition includes Yorkshire’s Gary Ballance and Joe Root, Surrey fast bowler Stuart Meaker, Lancashire spin bowler Simon Kerrigan and Derbyshire batsman Dan Redfern.

The award will acknowledge the best young talent in the LV= County Championship and reinforces the sponsor’s support for a competition that is the bedrock of the domestic game as well as a breeding ground for the next generation of English cricketers.

An esteemed four-man panel selected the shortlist of six players for the award based on their performances in the LV= County Championship, so far this season.

The panel comprised LV= ambassador and ex-England bowler Darren Gough, former England captain and current managing director of partnerships at the ECB Mike Gatting, PCA chairman and Worcestershire batsman Vikram Solanki and cricket writer John Stern.

Commenting on the new award, LV=’s head of sponsorship, Claire Jeromson said: “We wanted this award to identify and champion the best young talent that is playing in the LV= County Championship. The competition continues to be the testing ground for the next crop of England players and with the standard of the domestic game improving each season, it is important to recognise these promising young players.”

Mike Gatting added: “It’s been a great county championship season so far, and these six players really stood out for the panel. I sincerely hope that these players continue to perform, and go on to play for England Lions and England in the coming years.”

To vote for your LV= County Championship Breakthrough Player and be in with a chance of winning a signed England bat visit www.LV.com/cricket .

Voting closes on Sunday, September 2, with the winner due to be announced on Wednesday, September 5.

The player with the highest number of nominations will receive a commemorative TAG Heuer watch engraved to recognise their achievement, plus a £1,000 donation to a grassroots cricket initiative of their choice.

Picture supplied by Sarah Ansell. To see more of Sarah’s pictures visit www.sarahcanterbury.com