Kent receive Northeast boost

England Under-19 batsman Sam Northeast will be available full time for Kent next season after deciding to delay going to university for a year.

Northeast, who toured with the Under-19s last winter and is set to do this again in 2009, graduated from Harrow at the end of the summer and is on a development contract at Canterbury.

The 19-year-old made his first-class debut for Kent in 2007, playing against Durham at Canterbury in Division One of the LV County Championship.

Sam Northeast shows off his solid technique for Kent 2nd XI against Surrey during August

Buy this photo

Meanwhile, four of Kent’s other leading youngsters have signed one-year development contracts with the club.

Phil Edwards (24), Warren Lee (21) and Charlie Hemphrey (19) have committed to contracts for 2009 while Alex Blake (19) has accepted an offer which extends to the end of 2010.

For Hemphrey, 2009 will be his second season as a development contract player.

Kent chairman of cricket Graham Johnson said: “We are obviously delighted that Sam has decided to play full time next season and also pleased that Alex Blake, Warren Lee and Charlie Hemphrey will also be able to play a full part in the cricket programme.

“The club is working hard to bring ‘home grown’ cricketers into the first-class game and further to gain international honours.

“We have Rob Key, Jo Denly, Amjad Khan and Robbie Joseph in this winter’s England Development squad and six of our academy are playing for England at age group level.”

Kent academy director Phil Relf added: “Development contracts give young cricketers a unique opportunity to be part of the professional team and provides them with an excellent opportunity to prove that they have what it takes to make it into the first-class game.

“I look forward to working with them next season.”