Ben Gibbon admitted it was “a dream come true” to make his first class debut for Worcestershire and claim his first wicket on day one of the LV=Insurance County Championship match with Durham at New Road.
The left-arm pace bowler picked up the wicket of Durham number three, Keegan Petersen, and returned figures of 17-4-50-1.
Family members had travelled down from Chester to watch his debut, and it was also a proud day for them.
Gibbon said: “I got told yesterday I was going to play, and the feeling was of excitement, and the nerves started to kick in when I got to the ground this morning.
“It was a big day for me, a first class debut, but as soon as I settled into an over or two, I was alright.
“How did you feel when you got the first wicket? Short and wide of off stump, but I’ll take anything! It was a nice moment to get off and running with the first one.
“To get that first wicket, and just to play today, my first class debut, is a dream come true, really. It makes all the hard yards worthwhile.
“I’ve been working towards that for quite a few years, and it is nice to get the first wicket off my back and see where we go from there.
“I would have taken conceding under three an over at the start of the day, to be fair, but just happy to be out there playing.”
“It was great that my dad and girlfriend were here and I think my mum and dad are coming again tomorrow.
“My dad has been a big influence. He is the one who got me into the game, and credit to him for driving me about to all the games.”
Gibbon has impressed in the pre-season games and Seconds before earning his chance.
He said: “We’ve got a good seam attack here, so there are always challengers for spots.
“I’ve just been trying to bowl well in the second team so far this season, and lucky enough I got the call-up.”
Gibbon praised the way the Worcestershire attack stuck to their task against a strong line-up in batter friendly conditions.
He said: “I think their top six have all been in and around England. They’ve got a good team, but I think the lads will fight back tomorrow.
“A really tough day, they batted really well, but I think the lads stuck to their line and length really well, although the ball was going around the park a bit.
“We got our heads down and worked together as a unit.”
