Meet Toby Lambert, Nottinghamshire Academy prospect and multi-faceted wicketkeeper, in our next Academy Spotlight.
*******
For any professional sportsperson, aspiring or established, possessing a strong trust in one's ability is non-negotiable for success.
When age-group product Toby Lambert made his Second XI debut for Nottinghamshire in 2023, during his first year on the Academy, he faced the inevitable initial flurry of nerves.
"I was quite nervous at first, but I trusted myself that I was good enough to be there," Lambert says.
He claimed an athletic catch behind the stumps in that debut against Parsee Gymkhana Mumbai at Lady Bay to dismiss their opening batter for 64.
But, and as is key for any wicketkeeper with aspirations to play the game professionally, the Newark-born teenager has more tricks stored up his sleeves when he changes one pair of gloves for another.
"My strengths lie, as a batter, in being able to perform anywhere in the batting order," he adds, "I like that I can come in and rotate the strike."
Lambert clearly enjoys his own versatility, perhaps shown in his slight preference for the white-ball game. A memorable innings against Derbyshire in a 40-over U18s fixture saw the youngster come one run short of an impressive century, his 101-ball 99 helping the young Outlaws to a comfortable victory.
He may not be the most vocal of the Academy group, with the majority being one or two years his senior, but the Farnsfield 'keeper is more than accustomed to cementing his place amongst older players - having often been a level above fellow cricketers of his own age.
"He's quiet, but there's nothing wrong with that," says Academy coach Richard Damms, "He always speaks at the right time.
"He has dominated when playing in his own age groups - particularly at 14, which earned him the opportunity to come on the Academy at 15. It's highly impressive."
The key to graduating from the Academy into a full-time contract, Damms adds, rests on the balancing of two factors: potential and performance.
"Ideally you want someone who shows high potential and puts in performances," he says, "fulfilling his potential and being the best version of himself is important for Toby, and his performances will be the deciding factor."
Undoubtedly, Lambert's ambitions lie further up the food chain, and time remains on his side as he looks to state his case for a further stay at Trent Bridge come the end of his term in the Academy.
"Eventually, I want to end up signing a professional contract," he says, "I'll do whatever I can in order to get there."