Essex all-rounder Thain signs two-year contract

Noah Thain has played four England Under-19 Test appearances over the past two summers

Essex teenager Noah Thain has signed his first professional contract with the county.

The England Under-19s all-rounder's new two-year deal ties him to Chelmsford until the end of the 2026 season.

Thain, 19, who had previously been on a rookie contract, has made three County Championship appearances this summer and played in all eight of Essex's One-Day Cup group games.

He has also been part of the England Under-19 set-up, playing three one-day internationals and two Tests alongside Essex team-mates Luc Benkenstein and Charlie Allison.

“He's a superbly talented cricketer with both bat and ball," Essex director of cricket Anthony McGrath told the club website.

"It's a massive tick in the box for our pathway system when a player like Noah comes through and begins to blossom into an established first-team cricketer.

“Our challenge as coaches now is to keep raising Noah's game to ensure he can hit the goals he is capable of and become the player we all know he can be."

Essex, third in Division One of the Championship behind leaders Surrey and second-placed Somerset, return to red-ball action after a seven-week break with an away trip to Hampshire on Thursday.