New deal cheer for Beer

9 October 2008

Will Beer on one-day duty for England Under-19s

Sussex have handed young leg-spinner Will Beer a new two-year contract.

The 20-year-old played two first-class matches and made four Twenty20 appearances for Sussex in his first year on the playing staff.

Beer made his first-class debut in the LV County Champions’ traditional curtain-raiser against MCC at Lord’s, taking 1-18.

He was released midway through the season to play for England Under-19s in the Test series against New Zealand, where he starred by taking 10 wickets at an average of 17.60, including a match haul of 8-99 at Taunton.

All-rounder Ragheb Aga has also signed a two-year extension to his deal at Hove.

The leading wicket-taker in Sussex’s second XI, with an average of 14.17, Aga will hope to press for greater first-team opportunities next season.

Aga, 24, a former captain of Kenya, has played five first-class matches for Sussex, taking nine wickets.

He is also likely to make further appearances for the country of his birth, after playing for Kenya in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers in August.

Mark Robinson, Sussex's professional cricket manager, said: “Ragheb, as a bowling all-rounder, and Will, as a leg-spinner, are two exciting commodities to have at the club.

“If they both continue to progress as they have this season, they should have big futures within the team.”