Quintet commit to Surrey

Surrey all-rounder Matthew Spriegel is among five of their academy graduates to sign contracts for the 2009 season and beyond.

Spriegel, Chris Murtagh, Laurie Evans, Stuart Meaker and Arun Harinath - all past members of the club’s Pemberton Greenish academy programme - have all been retained for next season.

Spriegel (21), Evans (20), Stuart Meaker (19) and Harinath (21) have all agreed two-year deals while Murtagh (23) has signed for a further year.

Three of the five players - Spriegel, Meaker and Murtagh - have already made their county first-class debuts, while the remaining two have been staking their claims with some consistent performances for the second XI.

Matthew Spriegel, who played in nine championship matches this season, has signed a two-year deal

Spriegel, who had the most successful summer of the five, made his debut back in May against Somerset.

He played in nine LV County Championship matches for Surrey with his breakthrough performance coming against Nottinghamshire where he made 51 batting in the middle order. He also put in some handy all-round performances in one-day cricket with his off-spin.

Academy director Gareth Townsend said: “Though we have endured a disappointing season, the positive progress of Jade Dernbach and Matthew Spriegel in the first team this year highlights the quality players that are emerging from the 'PG' academy programme.

“The announcement by the club in offering these contracts to our young players is further testament to the faith that Surrey are showing in home grown players.

“It is without doubt that players such as Dernbach, Spriegel, Stuart Meaker, Arun Harinath, Chris Murtagh, Laurie Evans and Simon King have worked hard on their cricket in the pursuit of forging a successful career with the club, and I have confidence that these players will be an integral part of Surrey's future success.”

Newly appointed managing director of Surrey Cricket Gus Mackay added: “We’re looking to build a very strong squad for next season and these youngsters are a key part of our rebuilding process as well as being an extremely important part of our club’s long term plans.”