Like his father, Steve, Joe Gatting was on the books at Brighton & Hove Albion for three seasons but when offered a chance to join Sussex's cricket academy in 2008 he quit football for cricket. Like his uncle Mike, the former England captain, cricket was where his talent flourished.

A muscular middle-order batsman, Gatting made an immediate impression during 2009, his first season, with 152 on first-class debut against Cambridge MCCU. After being asked to bat at No. 3 he suffered that difficult second season in 2010, averaging 14.09 from eight games. But in 2011 he responded with a maiden Championship century at New Road and an average of 51.30 from seven matches.

Given plenty of opportunities in 2012 he could only manage 279 runs in 16 first-class innings, albeit in horrendously wet conditions. He was handed five more matches in 2013 but didn't make an impression and was released, only to be quickly given a new chance with Hampshire on a two-year deal.

He played eight Championship matches in 2014 but only made one half-century; and was only given a chance in three one-day games. He topped Hampshire's first-class averages the following season, although only playing four games, but was still released at the end of the season.
ESPNcricinfo staff