Dillon Pennington is an English professional cricketer known for his pace, height and ability to trouble batters with steep bounce. Born on 26 February 1999 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, he developed through county cricket before earning recognition from the England setup.
The right-arm fast bowler spent the early part of his professional career with Worcestershire before joining Nottinghamshire ahead of the 2024 season. That move became an important stage in his career. Strong County Championship performances soon brought him into England’s senior Test squad.
At 27 years old in 2026, Pennington remains an active county cricketer with ambitions of taking the final step into England’s Test XI.
Dillon Pennington Age, Height and Early Life
Dillon Young Pennington was born on 26 February 1999, making him 27 years old as of August 2026. He was born and raised in Shrewsbury, where cricket became a major part of his childhood. He stands at approximately 6 feet 4 inches, or 193 cm. His tall frame is an important part of his bowling. It helps him release the ball from a high point and create sharp bounce, even from surfaces that offer little help to fast bowlers.
Growing Up in Shrewsbury
Dillon Pennington began playing cricket at an early age. His father, Clive Pennington, played age-group cricket for Somerset and helped encourage his son’s interest in the sport. Dillon spent many hours playing cricket with his father in the family garden. Those early experiences gave him a strong foundation before he entered organised junior cricket. At the age of nine, he joined Shrewsbury Cricket Club. His ability soon earned him a place in the Shropshire Under-10 side, beginning a journey that would take him through several county age groups.
His Shropshire Development
Dillon Pennington progressed from Shropshire Under-10 cricket through to Under-17 level and later senior county competition. His development also included the county’s Emerging Player Programme. His teenage years were not free from setbacks. He narrowly missed selection for the Bunbury Festival and later faced an injury that affected another development opportunity. Instead of allowing those moments to stop his progress, he continued working through Worcestershire’s pathway.
Dillon Pennington Education
Education remained important throughout his cricket development. He attended Oxon Primary School in Shrewsbury before receiving a bursary and scholarship to attend Wrekin College. The school gave him the chance to develop both academically and as a young sportsman. Pennington later studied at the University of Worcester, completing an undergraduate degree in Sports Studies.
Studying While Playing Professional Cricket
Completing university work while building a professional sporting career required discipline. Pennington balanced training, travel and competitive cricket with assignments and his final dissertation. He completed his degree in 2021.
He has also spoken openly about living with dyslexia. Reading, spelling and written assignments created challenges during his school years, but specialist support helped him develop ways to manage his studies. His achievement at university became an important personal milestone, especially because he completed the course while already involved in professional cricket.
Dillon Pennington Cricket Career
Dillon Pennington’s route into county cricket developed through the Worcestershire system. After progressing through satellite and academy levels, he moved closer to senior professional cricket. His performances also earned him international youth recognition.
England Under-19 Career
Pennington represented England at Under-19 level and was selected for the 2018 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. He produced important bowling performances during the tournament. Against Australia in the quarter-final, he took three wickets. In another match against New Zealand, he removed both Jakob Bhula and Rachin Ravindra early in the innings. The tournament gave him valuable experience against some of the best young cricketers in the world.
Worcestershire Career
Pennington made his List A debut for Worcestershire on 7 June 2018 against Warwickshire. His first-class debut followed on 25 June 2018 against Nottinghamshire, the county he would later join. His T20 debut came against Derbyshire on 8 July 2018.
He remained with Worcestershire from 2018 to 2023, making 117 first-team appearances across six seasons. Worcestershire played a major role in his development. However, Pennington eventually decided that a new environment could help him raise his game.
Dillon Pennington at Nottinghamshire
Pennington joined Nottinghamshire before the 2024 season. His first-class debut for the county came against Essex at Trent Bridge on 5 April 2024. The move quickly produced results. During his first County Championship campaign for Nottinghamshire, he collected 31 wickets at an average of 23.80 from eight matches. He finished as the club’s leading Championship wicket-taker despite missing part of the season. Working with Nottinghamshire’s coaching team also helped him refine his bowling action and improve his pace.
England Test Squad Call-Up
His strong start with Nottinghamshire earned one of the biggest moments of his career. In June 2024, England selected Pennington in the Test squad for the series against the West Indies. Brendon McCullum personally called him with the news while he was travelling on the Nottinghamshire team coach. England captain Ben Stokes later contacted him to welcome him into the group.
The first Test at Lord’s also marked James Anderson’s final Test, allowing Pennington to train alongside one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history. He did not make his Test debut during the series, meaning he remains uncapped at senior international level.
England Lions
Dillon Pennington has also represented the England Lions, keeping him firmly within England’s wider fast-bowling system. These opportunities have allowed him to work with experienced coaches and former international cricketers while preparing for the demands of Test cricket.
Dillon Pennington Bowling Speed and Style
Pennington is a right-arm fast or medium-fast bowler who generally operates in the mid-80 mph range, roughly 135 to 138 km/h. His greatest weapon is not only speed. His 6-foot-4 frame helps him produce steep bounce from a high release point. That combination can make him difficult to face, particularly when he maintains a strong line outside off stump.
Career Stats and Major Performances
Dillon Pennington has passed 200 first-class wickets, with a career-best first-class bowling performance of 5/32. A career statistical snapshot recorded 212 first-class wickets from 66 matches, with a bowling average of 28.51. His first-class batting record also includes a highest score of 61. In List A cricket, he has taken more than 30 wickets, while his T20 career has produced more than 70 wickets. Because he continues to play professional cricket, these totals keep changing.
County Championship Success
The 2025 season brought major success when Nottinghamshire won the County Championship. Pennington played his part in the title-winning campaign and was awarded his Nottinghamshire County Cap on 24 September 2025. His contract with Nottinghamshire has also been extended through the end of the 2027 season, showing the club’s confidence in his long-term value.
The Hundred Career
Dillon Pennington has represented different franchises in The Hundred. His teams have included Birmingham Phoenix, Northern Superchargers and Trent Rockets. For the 2026 competition, he was selected by Welsh Fire through the Vitality Wildcard Draft. The Hundred has given him further experience in high-pressure short-format cricket alongside leading domestic and international players.
Dillon Pennington in 2026
Dillon Pennington remains an important member of Nottinghamshire’s attack. During the 2026 season, he produced a five-wicket haul of 5/65 against Somerset. He also showed his ability with the bat, scoring 37 not out from only 18 deliveries against Lancashire in the Vitality Blast.
In one-day cricket, he delivered notable spells including 4/54 against Surrey, 4/49 against Yorkshire and 3/65 against Leicestershire. In August 2026, he took 3/46 against Surrey at The Oval, helping Nottinghamshire secure a 145-run victory.
Injury and Career Challenges
His breakthrough 2024 campaign was disrupted by a hamstring injury sustained during The Hundred. The timing was frustrating because he had recently entered the England Test environment. However, he recovered and returned to competitive cricket and England Lions involvement. His journey shows how injuries, selection decisions and competition for England places can shape the career of a fast bowler.
Dillon Pennington Girlfriend
Dillon Pennington has kept much of his private life away from the spotlight. In June 2022, he shared an affectionate birthday message for Eleanor Mae on Instagram. The post indicated that the two were romantically involved at that time.
Social Media and Management
Dillon Pennington uses Instagram under @dillonp___, where his bio connects him with Trent Bridge and Nottinghamshire. His Instagram also identifies Nomas Management as his representation. His X account is @DillonPenningt4. An older bio still refers to him as a Worcestershire cricketer and names 366 Group as his representation, reflecting an earlier stage of his career.
A Fast Bowler With England Ambitions
Dillon Pennington has built his career through patience, county development and strong performances. From junior cricket in Shropshire to Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire, England Lions and a senior England Test squad, his progress has been steady.
His height, bounce and mid-80s pace make him a valuable red-ball bowler, while his white-ball performances show useful range. A County Championship title, more than 200 first-class wickets and an England squad call-up have already given him significant achievements.
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