Scotland international Tom Sole and batsman Charlie Thurston have both agreed professional contracts with Northamptonshire County Cricket Club.
Sole, 22, has signed a two-year deal while Thurston, also 22, joins the County on a one-year summer contract.
A talented batsman and off-spinner, and the son of rugby union legend David Sole, Tom made his ODI debut for Scotland earlier this year after making a successful appearance for Northamptonshire against the touring South Africans in 2017 – scoring 54 off just 43 balls.
He also turned out for the Steelbacks in this summer’s Vitality Blast competition following a lengthy lay-off through injury.
“Obviously Tom’s season was ravaged by his ankle problem, but we see him as a very strong white-ball cricketer capable of starting the campaign in both the 50-over and T20 formats next year,” commented head coach David Ripley.
“He’s also keen to improve his red-ball cricket in order to push the players currently ahead of him in the pecking order.”
Thurston, like Alastair Cook a product of Bedford School, made his first-class debut for Loughborough MCCU in 2016 and this summer represented Northamptonshire in all three major competitions – including the late-season Specsavers Championship matches against Derbyshire and Sussex.
“Charlie had a very strong white-ball season in our Second XI which earned him some first-team opportunities,” said Ripley.
“It was great to see him finish his red-ball season with a double-hundred for the seconds against Scotland A. He will be spending his winter working on his game in New Zealand, and we look forward to catching up with him again in pre-season.”