Kent complete the signing of two new Academy scholars

Kent County Cricket Club has today completed the signing of seam bowler Sam Weller and spinner Henry Pickering (both 16 years of age). The talented youngsters will be a part of the Kent Academy for the 2011 senior programme.

Pickering plays his Club cricket for Bexley and attends Beths Grammar School. He is a left arm spin bowler and lower order batsman. Weller plays his cricket for Hartley Country Club and attends Millfield School in Somerset.

The move for Weller further outlines that the Club’s search for new players is taking place right across the UK. The right arm seam bowler represented the West of England at last year’s U15 Bunbury Festival.

Commenting on the double signing, Kent’s High Performance Director, Simon Willis, said: “Kent is a club that’s proud of its history, traditions and heritage – none more so than producing home-grown talent. We welcome both Henry and Sam onto our Academy as they have shown the qualities and standards we are looking for moving forwards. They both live in Kent and have aspirations to represent the county at senior level but it is important to recognise the role that both school and club cricket has played in their rise to gaining their Academy contracts. I would like to thank Millfield School, Beths Grammar School, Hartley Country Club and Bexley for once again supporting the development of young players in Kent and we look forward to establishing links with other organisations that allows us to develop an efficient and effective scouting system into the future.”

Kent’s Director of Cricket, Paul Farbrace, added: “I am delighted that we have secured the two lads onto the Academy. They are both very talented young cricketers and it is always exciting to see new players joining the programme. At a time when bowlers are hard to find, it is great that Simon has been able to add a left arm spinner and pace bowler. We are all looking forward to watching them progress over the next few years towards their ultimate dream of playing first class cricket for the county.”