Middlesex sign trio of youngsters to rookie contracts for 2020 campaign

Dan Lincoln, Thilan Walallawita and Joe Cracknell have earned maiden professional deals after impressing for the county's second team in recent years

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Middlesex have awarded one-year rookie deals to three young players ahead of the 2020 campaign following a string of promising second XI outings.

Orthodox spinner Thilan Walallawita, whose family moved to the country from their native Sri Lanka after the tsunami of 2004, graduates to the senior setup after seven years playing age-group cricket.

The 21-year-old has since accumulated 164 wickets for Middlesex's second-string side since debuting in 2015, and the club hopes his signing will fill a vacancy in the spin department after the release of veteran offspinner Ollie Rayner. However, ECB regulations currently prevent him from figuring at first-team level.

Dan Lincoln, 24, earned a T20 Blast debut for the county last summer after overseas star batsman AB de Villiers was ruled out through injury. 

In addition to scoring more than 1,000 runs at 2nd XI level, Lincoln is also a goalkeeper for National League South side Hampton & Richmond Borough. He has made 17 appearances for the club so far this winter, having joined from Bognor Regis Town shortly after making his professional cricket debut.

The trio of signings is rounded out by 19-year-old wicketkeeper Joe Cracknell, who registered a maiden century in Middlesex colours during a two-day match against Ireland's Test side as they prepared to face England at Lord's in July.

The Enfield-born youngster has also played Minor Counties cricket for Berkshire, and he follows North Middlesex CC teammate Luke Hollman in penning a contract with the county for 2020.

Angus Fraser, the county's managing director of cricket, commented: "Each of these cricketers continue to make a positive impression on everyone at the club.

"Dan enters our elite environment at an older age than most but his desire to improve and make the most of his opportunities is clear to see. In his own uncomplicated way, he scored more 2nd XI runs than anybody at the club in 2019 and is one of the best fielders I have seen. His slip catching is almost comparable to that of Ollie Rayner.

"Thilan is one of the most exciting young spinners in the country and he has bowled extremely well in 2nd XI cricket for a number of years. As with Dan his desire to play and improve is tangible.

"ECB regulations unfortunately mean that Thilan, who has been playing youth cricket for Middlesex for seven years, is not yet qualified to play for our first XI. It is a ruling we are challenging as we believe he should be. Even so, we will back Thilan until he is available to play first team cricket.

"I like it when young cricketers dominate and perform well in the Middlesex County Cricket League, as it was my way into professional cricket. Joe's talents were identified by Middlesex before he was helping North Middlesex win the league and we believe that his strong and dynamic style of batting will come though, especially in white-ball cricket."