Hain looks to future with Bears
SAM Hain has signed a threeyear contract extension that will keep him at Warwickshire until at least the end of the 2021 season.
The 22-year-old has struggled in first-class cricket to live up to the enormous promise he displayed in 2014, when he became the Bears’ youngest centurion and double centurion as he amassed 823 County Championship runs at 51.43.
However, he has blossomed in the shorter formats, topping the run-charts as Warwickshire went all the way in the Royal London One-Day Cup in 2016, while he struck a superb 72 from 44 balls in the final of last year’s NatWest T20 Blast in a losing cause against Nottinghamshire.
Warwickshire sport director Ashley Giles said: “Sam is a tremendously talented batsman and one of the most exciting young prospects in the county game, who has demonstrated he can play big innings in the most pressurised situations.
“He’s enjoyed a lot of success in white-ball cricket over the last two seasons, helping the team win the One-Day Cup at Lord’s and coming so close to getting us home in last season’s Blast.
“However, he now needs to take this into championship cricket and build on the seven centuries he scored in the early part of his career.
“Despite a difficult season last year, he has shown good character and worked hard. We’re thrilled he will continue to be a Bear as we rebuild to challenge across all formats.”
Hain said: “I absolutely love playing for the Bears and it’s great to have secured my future. The management have been very busy rebuilding the squad, so we can challenge hard for promotion. It’s a very exciting time to be a Bear.”