England Under-19 seamer Blake Cullen signs three-year Middlesex deal

A product of the county’s academy system, Cullen first played for Middlesex at Under-10 level

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England Under-19 seamer Blake Cullen has signed a three-year deal with Middlesex.

The 17-year-old, who has been in South Africa as part of Jon Lewis’ World Cup squad, has agreed a rookie deal with the county.

Cullen took two wickets in four games as England won the plate competition after being knocked out in a dramatic match against Australia in the tournament’s group stage.

His signing will see him remain at the club until at least the end of the 2022 campaign. A product of the county’s academy system, Cullen first played for Middlesex at Under-10 level; he then made his second team debut in July 2017 against Glamorgan.

Cullen said: “I’m absolutely thrilled at becoming a Middlesex Cricket professional and am very thankful and honoured to have the opportunity.

“I owe much to the brilliant coaches that I have been lucky enough to work with over the years.

“I’m still developing my game and am really looking forward to learning in a professional environment and to drawing on the experiences of the senior players. I very much hope to be making a valuable contribution to the club in the near future.”

^{Cullen was part of England's squad at the Under-19 World Cup}

Angus Fraser, the county’s managing director of cricket, added: “We have been aware of and excited by Blake’s potential for quite some time.

“He may only be 17 but he bowls like a grown man, which is characteristic you don’t see in many teenagers. Blake is tall, aggressive and has a good, strong, easy to repeat bowling action, assets which could quickly see him competing for a place in our first XI.

“He is an intelligent young man too, and this contract, which I hope will be the first of many he has with Middlesex, will see him through his time at university.”

Cullen follows fellow youngsters Joe Cracknell, Dan Lincoln and Thilan Walallawita in signing his first contract with the club.