Harrison Ward agrees new Sussex contract

As part of the arrangement, Ward will be available predominantly for the white-ball segments of the summer, allowing him to complete his degree at Cardiff Metropolitan University

Sussex batter Harrison Ward has signed a two-year contract extension with the county.

As part of the arrangement, Ward will be available predominantly for the white-ball segments of the summer, allowing him to complete his degree at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

The left-hander made his professional debut during the summer, featuring on T20 Blast Finals Day. The 22-year-old is yet to pass 22 in 14 innings for the first team but came through the county's academy via Sussex's partnership with Oxfordshire and represented England at under-19 level.

"I want to thank the club for giving me this opportunity and, with a winter behind me, hopefully I can contribute to winning games of cricket for Sussex next season," said Ward. "We have a good group of young players and, if we work hard, hopefully we can build something special at the club."

^{Harrison Ward in training with England Under-19s (Ian Horrocks/Getty Images)}

Ian Salisbury, Sussex's head coach in first-class and List A cricket, added: "We saw glimpses of what he could be capable of last season, and he's made it clear through his approach that he is absolutely committed to building on those and making it as a pro cricketer.

"We want to build a squad of multi-format players, but there's more than one way of achieving that. Harrison's skills currently lean towards the white-ball game, but you just have to look at a player like Davey Warner to see that that's no barrier to ultimately achieving success in the longer form."

Ward was one of several young players to be handed opportunities at Sussex in 2021, with Danial Ibrahim, James Coles and Archie Lenham all rewarded for their performances with England Under-19s roles.

Jack Carson, Henry Crocombe, Ali Orr, Oli Carter, Tom Clark, Tom Hinley, Jamie Atkins, Joe Sarro and Sean Hunt also featured for the county, who have lost several senior pros in recent times and won just three times across last season's County Championship and Royal London Cup.

^{Main image courtesy of Sussex Cricket}