Northamptonshire trio awarded rookie contracts

Harry Gouldstone, Freddie Heldreich and Gus Miller have signed contracts for next season, with Gouldstone and Heldreich enjoying first team action in 2021

Harry Gouldstone, Freddie Heldreich and Gus Miller have signed rookie contracts with Northamptonshire for the 2022 season.

Wicketkeeper Gouldstone made four appearances in the County Championship in 2021, scoring his maiden senior half-century against Glamorgan to seal an unlikely draw for Northamptonshire.

Heldreich, a left-arm wrist-spinner, enjoyed eight outings across the T20 Blast and Royal London Cup, taking eight wickets.

19-year-old allrounder Miller is yet to make his first-team bow for Northamptonshire but has impressed for the second XI, scoring two half-centuries in his past three red-ball outings.

Commenting on the contracts, academy director, Kevin Innes, said: "Over the last couple of years we’ve had a lot of good players come through the junior set-up which is really pleasing.

"Gus Miller is a hard-hitting batter who bowls good heavy lengths too and is a great slip catcher. Harry Gouldstone has been our most prolific run-scorer in age-group cricket and is very tidy behind the stumps with a level headed mentality. Freddie is very unique in his bowling style which really pays off in white-ball cricket, he’s a little magician."

Head coach, John Sadler, added: "It’s a great sign for the club to be producing our own high quality, local talent. These lads are all a credit to Kev Innes and the Academy system we’ve got at Northamptonshire.

"They all deserve the rookie deals they’ve been offered and have bright futures in the game, but obviously we fully respect and support their education and university commitments, too. We’re looking forward to supporting and helping them develop their careers over the coming years."