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From playing Norfolk with Cumbria three days ago to going into action for Lancashire against Gloucestershire is a possibility for all-rounder Ben Walkden. Walkden, who will be 24 in September, has been handed a contract with Lancashire for the rest of this season and for 2027. He has been included in the Lancashire squad (of 15) to face Gloucestershire in the Metro Bank One Day Cup today at Old Trafford. Walkden made his debut for Cumbria in July 2022 and played his 50th match (in all formats) for the county in the Championship this week against Norfolk. His top score is 102 in the One Day Trophy and his best bowling is 4/24 in the three-day championship. It’s a return to the Lancashire club as he was in their academy for two years 2020/21 and 2021/22. Before that he had been in the Lancashire age group pathway since being in their under-11s in 2014. He played for Lancashire’s 2nd XI between 2021 and 2023 before being invited to play again this year, no doubt due to his club form in the Liverpool Comp. He has always played for the same club, Newton-le-Willows, where he is the first XI captain and where also his dad Ian is chairman and his uncle Mike is the head groundsman. This season he is currently the second highest run scorer in the Liverpool Comp’s Premier Division with over 700 league runs and the highest wicket taker having taken over 50 league wickets. His side currently top the division and he was the first player to notch up 50 wickets in any of the ECB Premier Leagues this season, nationwide. He follows in the footsteps of Richard Gleeson (Northants, Lancashire, Warwickshire) and Mattie McKeirnan (Derbyshire) of securing a contract with a first class county after playing for the county club.