2009–2010

Briggs progressed through Hampshire's Academy system, having played for the county at junior level, while additionally playing for Ventnor Cricket Club on the Isle of Wight. He made his first team debut for the county in a List A match in the 2009 Friends Provident Trophy against Nottinghamshire at the Rose Bowl. In a season in which he made regular appearances for the Hampshire Second XI, as well as a single MCCA Knockout Trophy match for Berkshire, Briggs appeared in three further List A matches, as well as making his first-class debut in the County Championship against Somerset. Briggs made two further first-class appearances in 2009, taking a total of 8 first-class wickets at an average of 36.87.

His performances during the early part of the season, mostly for Hampshire's Second XI, caught the eye of the selectors of the England Under-19s, with Briggs called up to the team for their limited-overs matches against Bangladesh Under-19s in July 2009. Briggs made five Youth One Day International appearances, and a single Youth Twenty20 International appearance at London Road, Sleaford, during the series. Later in October 2009, Briggs toured Bangladesh with the England Under-19s, playing four further Youth One Day Internationals against the hosts, as well as making his only Youth Test match appearance at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong, during which he took a five wicket haul. Briggs was a part of England Under-19s squad for the 2010 Under-19 World Cup, which was played in New Zealand in January 2010, alongside Hampshire teammates Michael Bates and James Vince. Briggs played in three matches during the tournament, against Hong Kong Under-19s, Afghanistan Under-19s and the West Indies Under-19s. He won one man of the match award against Afghanistan, for his bowling performance of 3/15.

Briggs was able to force his way into Hampshire's first team virtually from the start of the 2010 season, due in part to Imran Tahir joining Warwickshire, while his replacement, Ajantha Mendis was unable to fulfill his commitment to playing for Hampshire, though the county did draft in the services of Rangana Herath. Briggs' breakthrough season was one in which he achieved great success. In first-class cricket, Hampshire struggled near the foot of the County Championship for most of the season, with Briggs playing in twelve of Hampshire's sixteen County Championship matches. He took 34 wickets in that season, ending the season as Hampshire's third highest wicket taker in the County Championship, behind Dominic Cork (45) and James Tomlinson (46). His performance against Kent in the penultimate match of season was