Warwickshire County Cricket Club has agreed a new two-year contract extension with seam-bowling all-rounder Mark Adair and confirmed first contracts with Matt Lamb, George Panayi and Liam Banks who graduate from the Club’s Academy.
All-rounder Adair (20) has impressed early-season for the Bears and forced his way in to the NatWest T20 Blast team, taking a wicket with his very first ball against Worcestershire Rapids at Edgbaston.
He joined the Club’s Academy at the end of the 2012 season and steps up from an Academy Development contract to win his first senior contract with the Club.
Lamb (19) is a right-hand batsman who has been part of the Warwickshire Development of Excellence programme since the age of 10 and was awarded an Academy place in 2012. He plays club cricket in the Birmingham & District Premier League for Barnt Green CC and attended North Bromsgrove High School before joining Bromsgrove School for his A-Levels.
Fast bowling all-rounder Panayi (18) joined the Bears as a 14-year-old and won a place in the Club’s Emerging Players Programme in 2012 and the Academy in 2014. He led the England Development Programme bowling attack in an under 17s international series with Pakistan in 2015 and attends Shrewsbury School. He plays in the Birmingham & District Premier League for reigning champions Shrewsbury CC.
Seventeen year-old Banks is a top order batsman and off break bowler who joined the Bears Academy from Staffordshire in 2012. He currently attends Newcastle-under-Lyme College and plays in the North Staffs & Cheshire League for Hem Heath CC.
Dougie Brown, Warwickshire CCC Director of Cricket, said: “It’s fantastic to see young players step up to a senior level and the new deals provide Matt, George and Liam with an opportunity to train with the squad and be in contention for playing at the highest level of the domestic game.
“We’re committed to giving our young players the best possible opportunity to progress to the professional ranks and today’s news ensures that 10 members of our squad have come through our development programme.
“Since making his First Class debut last September, Mark has worked very hard at his game and been very impressive in training. We are delighted with his performances this season and believe that he has a big future to play here at Edgbaston.”
