Pudsey Congs' talented young wicketkeeper Barney Gibson today became the youngest player ever to play first class cricket in England

Gibson was 15 years 27 days old when he stepped out for his debut in the three-day game against Durham University Centre of Cricket Excellence at the Riverside.

He beat the the 144-year record set by Charles Young of Hampshire, who played at the age of 15 years and 131 days in 1867.

He also became Yorkshire's youngest player ever beating the previous record of fast bowler Paul Jarvis who was 16 years and 2 months old when he first appeared for the county in 1981.

Gibson made an impressive start. His catch to dimiss Luc Durandt off the bowling of Oliver Hannon-Dalby was a full-length diving effort.

Gibson added a second catch later as the students were dismissed for 196 with spinner Gary Wainwright taking 6-40. Yorkshire were 113-0 at the close of the first day

Yorkshire's Director of Cricket Martin Moxon told his club's website http://www.yorkshireccc.com: "We like to give our young players a chance, but they have to be good enough and Barney's proved he's good enough at this moment in time.

"His first catch today was outstanding and would have been a good catch for a keeper of any age. He'll not have kept to that kind of pace very much, but 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."

Gibson made his county bow four days after playing for Pudsey Congs' second team as they beat Bankfoot by seven wickets. Gibson, who was playing for the second team to develop his batting made an unbeaten 50/

Click here for the full story of Gibson's debut

See Gibson's spectacular catch by following the link below and choosing gallery when the page appears,

http://www.yorkshireccc.com/news/durham-mccu-v-yorkshire-match-preview/752