Nico Reifer joins Surrey on rookie deal for 2020

The teenager will play grade cricket in Perth this winter alongside Scott Borthwick as he prepares for a season with the seniors

^{Nico Reifer has made 10 second XI appearances for Surrey (Instagram/Reifer27)}

Teenage Surrey allrounder Nico Reifer has signed a one-year rookie contract with Surrey until the end of the 2020 season.

The batting allrounder made his first appearance for the club’s age-grade side at 15, represented the club’s second XI 10 times since his debut in 2017 and has also captained the country of his birth, Barbados, at youth level.

He has been educated at Whitgift School for the last four years – the same school attended by multiple Surrey players, including England batsmen Jason Roy and Rory Burns, as well as Dom Sibley (now at Warwickshire) and Jamie Smith.

Reifer will head to Perth in November to play grade cricket for Midland-Guildford alongside Scott Borthwick, who spent the 2018/19 winter period with the Club, before returning to Surrey ahead of the 2020 English domestic season.

Reifer said: “I’m proud to have signed this contract with Surrey and I’m excited to have the opportunity to show what I can do. I’ll be working hard over the winter to make sure I’m ready for pre-season and the start of the 2020 season in England.”

Director of Cricket Alec Stewart added: “Nico has been in our academy and involved with the second XI and has shown good potential.

“Through signing his first rookie contract he has the opportunity to really develop his all-round talent and be a part of the professional setup. This is a great opportunity which we’re confident he will grab.”