Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
BERNARD SIGNS PROFESSIONAL DEAL
‘It helped my game in the long run because the conditions were different’
against Sussex at Canterbury during his time here, scoring an unbeaten 39 while batting at No.8 before failing the trouble the scorers in the second innings. He also took 1- 48.
A young Sam Billings, 15, was making his debut in that game and the England limited overs representative says he took a stumping off Smith. Folkestone bowler Hugh Bernard has signed his first professional contract with Kent. The England under-19 star got the great news during Australia’s Ashes tour opener in Canterbury. Bernard, 18, has so far taken 14 wickets for Folkestone in the Kent League Premier Division this summer including a fivewicket haul against Beckenham – his first at that level. He was named Kent Academy scholar-of-the-year in 2014 and now he steps up to senior status. Bernard said: “It is something I been working hard to achieve. “I was really pushing to try and get a contract at the end of the season - I didn’t expect to get one this early in the season. “It feels fantastic and I am so very pleased that the club has showed the faith in me to perform in the first team environment.” Bernard, who helped Folkestone gain promotion to the Premier Division last season, toured Western Australia with the England under-19s earlier this year. Bernard’s career goal is to play for the senior England team one day so it was no surprise to hear who his cricketing idol is. He said: “It’s Jimmy Anderson – he’s the best at what he does. “But saying that, the guys in the first team at Kent are great and are always happy to help. “I love picking their brains and am looking forward to continue to doing so now as I do my best to impress in the second team.”