Northamptonshire youngsters sign rookie deals

George Gowler and George Weldon, both seamers, will join the county's professional squad

Seam bowlers George Gowler and George Weldon have signed two-year rookie contracts with Northamptonshire for the first time.

Both teenagers – Gowler is 19, Weldon 18 – will join the professional squad after coming through the county's pathway.

Gowler has played second-team cricket for Northamptonshire for the last two summers.

"[Gowler's] a tall, 'hit the deck' type bowler who's really impressed with his pace and bounce and particularly the control he brings around off-stump," said the county's academy director, Kevin Innes.

"He's quite a traditional English seam bowler who'll always find movement through the air and off the pitch."

^{James Sales signed a contract extension with Northamptonshire earlier this month (David Rogers/Getty Images)}

Weldon, meanwhile, was part of the club's title-winning side in the ECB Under-18 50-over County Cup.

"He's burst onto the scene this year really," said Innes. "He's a bit later to cricket than some others but he's already been around the first team and playing for the 2s as well.

"He's got real pace and is quite skiddy. He's got a great toolkit for white-ball cricket with excellent yorkers and bouncers, I think he could be dangerous in shorter form stuff, particularly at the death."

They are the latest youngsters to sign contracts this winter with Northants, following in the footsteps of Freddie Heldreich and James Sales, who agreed extensions earlier this month.

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