ST Helens cricketer Matthew Hurst has signed professional terms with Lancashire following a successful year for the 18-year-old. 

The wicket keeper / batter plays his club cricket for Leigh CC after starting out at Newton le Willows CC and recently finished studying at Winstanley College.

Throughout 2022 he has featured for Lancashire’s Second XI, notching up a century in the Second XI Championship win away at Leicestershire this summer.

In England U19s' recent series against Sri Lanka, Hurst struck a century in the second Test at Derby.

He scored 490 league runs this season for Leigh in the Love Lane Liverpool Competition Premier League at an average of 32.67. 

Hurst also claimed 20 catches and three stumpings behind the wicket.

He was awarded his cap alongside fellow rookie signing Tom Aspinwall on day two of Lancashire's current County Championship match with Surrey at Emirates Old Trafford.

Lancashire's Director of Cricket Performance Mark Chilton said: “Tom and Matthew are a pair of really exciting young talents and we are pleased to offer them their first rookie contracts.

“They have performed consistently at a high standard in both our Second XI and for England Under 19s during the last 12 months and they are fully deserving of this opportunity.

“Tom and Matthew follow in the footsteps of George Bell and Josh Boyden, who have signed rookie contracts in the last year, and we look forward to tracking their progress during the winter and into next summer.”