Essex award nine academy contracts

Essex have signed up nine players for their Graham Gooch Essex Cricket Academy. Harry Beddows, 15, is the only new recruit. Beddows, a wicketkeeper-batsman, has been awarded a one-year deal along with Michael Comber, Joanne Cook, Dominic Hurst, Alan Ison and Aaron West.

Meanwhile, fifteen-year-old legspinning allrounder Rishabh Shah has been given a two-year academy contract, while Jaik Mickleburgh and Adam Wheater have been handed two-year academy professional contracts.