 A product of Derbyshire's Academy, he signed his first professional contract in July 2008, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2010 season.Following this, he scored his maiden One Day half-century in a tied Pro40 match against Yorkshire, hitting 57 not out but as Derbyshire narrowly missed out on a win.In August, he made his first Championship start of the year, in a high-scoring draw against Warwickshire, where he scored 11 runs and took one for seven in Warwickshire's second innings.