Riley and Piesley commit to Kent

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Adam Riley has been rewarded for his encouraging form with a new contract. He took 14 wickets in six matches this season

Adam Riley and Chris Piesley are among a handful of players who have extended their contracts with Kent.

Riley and Piesley, both 19, join Ivan Thomas and Benedict Kemp, both of whom make the step up from the Academy, in signing new deals, while Fabian Cowdrey, son of Chris and grandson of Colin, has joined the county.

Seamer Riley, who signed a three-year contract, made his first-class debut in Kent’s LV= County Championship Division Two clash with Northamptonshire this season and has since gone on to take 14 wickets in six matches.

He said: “I’m delighted to have extended my contract with Kent. I look forward to the challenges of the seasons ahead and I hope to be involved in the long-term future of the club.”

Piesley, a batsman by trade, has risen through the ranks at Canterbury and along with Thomas, Benedict and Cowdrey, has signed a one-year deal.

He said: “The discussions went really smoothly for me and I’m just really happy to be staying at Kent.”

Cowdrey was on the Kent Cricket Junior Academy from 2008 to 2010 and has played regularly for the second XI, while all-rounder Thomas and seamer Benedict join from the Academy, with the latter the recipient of this year’s award for Best Academy Scholar.

Kent high performance director Simon Willis said; “It was very pleasing to see Academy products Ivan Thomas, Benedict Kemp and Fabian Cowdrey performing well in second XI cricket this season.

“They have been rewarded for their efforts with contracts for the 2012 season and I look forward to seeing their continued development as they become exposed to the professional environment.”

James Goodman, though aged just 20, has decided to pursue a career outside the game after representing England at Under-19 level and making his first-class debut for Kent in 2010.

Chairman of cricket Graham Johnson added: “We are delighted to be able to confirm the latest signings. We are very fortunate to have a great number of talented young cricketers now coming through, and the time has now come for them to step up.

“Adam Riley has developed his bowling skills during the 2011 season, and Chris Piesley has shown a great deal of promise; we now look to them to deliver regularly in first team cricket.

“We also welcome Ivan Thomas and Benedict Kemp who have made an impact in the second XI team during the 2011 season, along with Fabian Cowdrey.

“We are sorry to see James Goodman leave the club given his obvious potential, but we wish him well for the future.”

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