Barney proves one for the future after history-making Yorkshire debut

Gibson was 15 years and 27 days old when he made his debut yesterday against Durham University.

The wicketkeeper, who attends Crawshaw School in Pudsey, beat the record held by Charles Young, who was 15 years and 131 days when he played for Hampshire against Kent at Gravesend in 1867.

The three-day fixture at the Racecourse Ground is effectively a second-team friendly, but is still regarded as a first-class match.

Gibson is the youngest Yorkshire player to appear in first-class cricket since Paul Jarvis, who was 16 years and 75 days when he played a County Championship game against Sussex at Hove in 1981.

Gibson represented the Yorkshire second team last week and plays for Pudsey Congs in the Bradford League. He marked his first-class debut with two catches as Yorkshire removed Durham for 196 and then reached 118-0, Gary Ballance unbeaten on 72 and Joe Sayers undefeated on 39.

Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of professional cricket, said: “We like to give our young players a chance but they have to be good enough, and Barney’s proved he is good enough at the moment.

“His first catch today was outstanding and would have been a good catch for a keeper of any age.

“He’s not fazed by the occasion or the publicity he’s now getting. For someone so young, he’s very level-headed; he knows what he needs to do.”

Ian Dews, Yorkshire’s director of cricket operations, believes Gibson has a bright future. “Barney is a very talented lad and has all the attributes a keeper needs. He’s a tremendous prospect and we’ve got high hopes for him.

“He did well for the seconds at Belper last week and the game in Durham is another good experience. He’s a bubbly sort of character – very much in the Simon Guy mould.”

Gibson, born March 31, 1996, was drafted into action because Yorkshire are resting the majority of their first team squad, including wicketkeepers Jonny Bairstow and Gerard Brophy.

The club want most of their established stars to clear their heads following a difficult start. Yorkshire have lost three of their four games in all competitions, including a humiliating defeat to the Netherlands last Sunday.

Gibson is in the process of being upgraded from scholarship status at Yorkshire to the club’s Academy ranks. He has already played several Academy games and has also trained with the first-team squad.

“When we had practice games at the start of the year, Barney impressed in an inter-squad match,” added Dews. He looked the part and had something about him.

“He also took part in some of our Twenty20 practice last year and kept wicket when Gerard and Jonny were batting. I remember he stumped Mags (Anthony McGrath).”

Yorkshire, who also handed first-class debuts yesterday to left-arm seamer Alex Lilley and left-arm spinner Gurman Randhawa, fought back well against the students after they made a confident start.

Durham University were 122-2 after winning the toss, Durandt (11) and Greg Smith (22) the men to fall.

A diving Gibson caught Durandt off Oliver Hannon-Dalby, the teenager claiming his second catch off David Wainwright, who stymied the hosts with a fine spell of left-arm spin bowling.

Wainwright finished with a career-best 6-40 from 26 overs, Sayers also claiming a career-best return of 3-15 with his occasional off-spin.

Ajmal Shahzad went wicketless, conceding 30 runs from 14 overs as he continues his comeback from a hamstring injury.