The 20-year-old pipped Kent and England opener Robert Key by a single vote after a highly promising season, which has included a career best score of 153 against Somerset.

Surrey coach Keith Medlycott believes Clarke is a genuine international prospect and believes he may be given his chance sooner rather than later.

"He's as exciting a young player as we've seen at Surrey for the past five or six seasons."

"I don't believe that you have to be a certain age to play for England and he's a very determined young man," he said last month.

Seven other players were nominated for the Young Cricketer Award.

They were Ian Bell and Graham Wagg of Warwickshire, Worcestershire's Kabir Ali, Tim Ambrose and Matt Prior of Sussex, Yorkshire spinner Richard Dawson and Lancashire all-rounder Kyle Hogg.