Gloucestershire allrounder Tom Price agrees first professional contract

Price, who hails from the same club side as county regulars Jack and Matt Taylor, had previously played Minor Counties cricket for Oxfordshire

• Visit the county hub
• County signings, ins and outs for 2020

Gloucestershire have signed seam-bowling allrounder Tom Price to his maiden professional contract.

Price made his senior debut for the county in a List A clash against the touring Australia A side in Bristol in June, and he also collected 14 wickets in eight Second XI Championship outings during the 2019 summer.

The 20-year-old was named the county's academy player of the year at the conclusion of his fourth year in the programme, and his formative cricket came at Great & Little Tew CC – the same club that produced Gloucestershire's Jack and Matt Taylor – as well as through the Oxfordshire age-groups and Minor Counties programme.

Right-hander Price will join Gloucestershire on a two-year contract while continuing his studies at the University of Durham. His recruitment follows those of George Scott and Josh Shaw as the county looks to improve the depth of its squad ahead of its first season in Division One of the County Championship since 2005.

"I'm very grateful to the club for their continued support, and to everyone who has helped make this possible," Price commented.

"It's a very exciting time to be a part of this special club, and I look forward to seeing what the next year will bring."

Tim Hancock, who oversees Gloucestershire's talent pathway, added: "This is a wonderful opportunity for Tom. He loves playing the game and I am sure he will do his upmost to take the opportunities and achieve his goals.

"I know I speak for all his coaches when I say he has been a real pleasure to coach during his time on the academy, and his hard work and humility sets a good example to our younger players coming up the pathway."