Craddock wins two year deal at Essex (From Gazette)

Tom Craddock wins two year deal at Essex Cricket Club

11:11am Wednesday 24th August 2011 in Essex County Cricket Club news By James Colasanti

YOUNG leg spinner Tom Craddock has been given a two-year deal at Essex after a successful trail with the county.

The 22-year-old put pen to paper on a new deal yesterday before Essex’s rain blighted Championship match with Derbyshire.

He now looks the heir apparent to Danish Kaneria, so long a hugely influential figure at Essex before last season’s acrimonious exit.

Essex snapped up Craddock after he impressed against them in CB matches for Unicorns earlier this year.

He was given a two-month trial starting in June, and responded with 19 Championship wickets at a very economical average of just over 18.

After his best haul of 4-59 in a win over Leicestershire in July, Essex coach Paul Grayson said in his column with our newspaper he had already seen enough to want to tie the youngster down to the club.

Huddersfield-born Craddock has also forced his way into both of Essex’s limited overs sides, and now he says he wants to help guide the club to a successful season finale.

He said: “Things have happened quickly for me and I’m absolutely delighted.

“My ambition has always been to play cricket professionally, and now Essex have given me that chance.

“Hopefully I can repay them by taking plenty of wickets and helping them to success.

“We’ve still got a chance in both formats of the game this year.

“And now hopefully we can get promotion in the Championship and sneak into the semi-finals of the CB40 and kick on from there maybe.”

Craddock was not the only one rewarded with a new contract yesterday as young fast bowler Tymal Mills, pictured below, also put pen to paper on a two-year deal.

The 18-year-old, a product of Essex’s vaunted Graham Gooch Cricket Academy, has forced his way into the first team this year.

He shot to prominence after starring with the ball on his Championship debut against Leicestershire in July.

It caps a good month for the teenager who was selected for the England Development Programme as the under-19s toured Sri Lanka.