Prospect Stokes gets a Durham deal (From The Northern Echo)

Prospect Stokes gets a Durham deal

9:48am Friday 11th December 2009 in

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DURHAM have handed a twoyear contract to Ben Stokes, the 18-year-old all-rounder who was born in New Zealand but raised in Cumbria, where he attended Cockermouth School.

A left-handed batsman who bowls medium pace, he went on the England U19 tour to Bangladesh in October and has been named in the squad for the World Cup in New Zealand in January.

Stokes, the son of a Rugby League player who came over from New Zealand to play for Workington, joined the Durham Academy in 2007 and made his Second XI debut in the same year, taking four for 19 against Leicestershire.

A back injury the following year resulted in batting becoming his stronger suit, although it was with the ball that he made his first impression when he made his senior debut last season in a Friends Provident Trophy against Surrey at The Oval. He forced Mark Ramprakash to play on in taking two for 22 in five overs.

He also made one appearance in the Pro40 League, scoring 11 against Nottinghamshire at Riverside.

Stokes said: “It’s been an exciting few weeks for me and I’m really happy to have signed my first professional contract.

“It’s great to be involved with such a successful club and it’s been a real benefit to have a varied group of players around me who I can go to for advice. I can’t wait for the 2010 season to start”

Coach Geoff Cook said: “We set Ben a number of challenging targets for the 2009 season and he worked incredibly hard to meet them. The transition from Academy to second XI and on to the first team can be a tough one but I have been impressed by the way he has performed.

“He’s a great young talent and I’m pleased that he’s going to be part of the squad for the foreseeable future.”