Two-year Durham deal for Jennings

By Tim Wellock

Former South Africa Under 19s captain Keaton Jennings has signed a two-year contract with Durham. The 20-year-old left-handed opener has committed himself to a first-class career in England and although he has gone home to continue his accountancy studies he will be back with Durham in February.

Jennings has not tasted defeat in the Durham first team after playing in the last five matches of the season. They won four and he scored 70 in the rain-ruined draw against Lancashire at Liverpool.

Fellow South African Michael Richardson, meanwhile, who was 26 last week, has signed on for at least another year. He has been on the Durham staff for two years as the reserve wicketkeeper but he played purely as a batsman in the last two games of the season, when he was given a chance to occupy the problematic No 3 slot.

His 41 at Liverpool was the highest score of the season by a Durham No 3 until he made 58 at home to Sussex in the final game. Although a new contract had been offered he was undecided whether to commit himself, knowing his chances of ousting Phil Mustard were slim.

But he has now agreed to stay, with coach Geoff Cook saying: “His status in the squad has changed as we would be prepared to see him as an out-and-out batsman. So there is some flexibility in his contract.”

Seamer Callum Thorp, who will be 38 in February, has also signed a new one-year deal and Cook indicated that Ian Blackwell will be staying, despite not featuring in the first team after May.

Despite allowing Liam Plunkett to leave for Yorkshire, Cook does not envisage making any more signings other than a top-order overseas batsman. “It’s very tricky trying to find one,” he said. “We have a few irons in the fire but there is a lot of jockeying around Indian Premier League contracts.”


Date: 15/10/2012 23:33:52 by Tim Wellock
In: Today | Durham |