James Coles signs first professional contract with Sussex

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Teenage allrounder James Coles has signed his first professional contract Sussex.

Coles is a right-handed, top-order batter and left-arm spinner and will join the first-team squad at the end of the school year.

Last season, the now 17-year-old became the club's youngest ever first-class player, aged 16 years and 157 days when he was selected to play against Surrey during the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020.

He impressed, claiming three wickets including those of England players Rory Burns and Ben Foakes.

"I was over the moon when Keith (Greenfield, Sussex Cricket’s performance director) told me I was being offered a deal as it’s always been my dream to sign a cricket contract from such a young age," said Coles, who is currently a student at Magdalen College School, Oxford.

"For it to finally happen, I couldn’t be more grateful. Now, I just hope to have a couple of good seasons and become a consistent first-team player."

County Championship and One-Day head coach Ian Salisbury added: "After he became Sussex’s youngest ever debutant, we are delighted to sign this talented young man. He definitely fits our strategy of signing young talent that will bring sustained success to Sussex in the future."

T20 coach, James Kirtley said: "Not only is James a high-quality top-order batter but he offers some good quality left-arm spin bowling. We very much see James as part of the Sussex future and our commitment to build this team is shown by the offer of this contract. We really believe that James can be part of the success story we are trying to build."

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