Award-winner Hill signs new Foxes contract
AFGHANISTAN WORLD CUP STAR SET TO JOIN UL-HAQ AT COUNTY
WICKETKEEPER Lewis Hill has signed a new contract at Leicestershire following his best season in professional cricket.
Hill was the leading run-scorer in the LV=County Championship and Royal London Cup, scoring a total of 1,457 runs across all three formats in 2021.
The 31-year-old was captain of the Running Foxes in the Royal London Cup campaign as the team came agonisingly close to qualifying for the knockout stages.
The right-handed batsman made five centuries, with three coming in the longest format, including a career-best 145 in the victory over Sussex.
Hill’s other two tons came in the List A campaign against Yorkshire Vikings and Somerset respectively.
The Royal London Cup captain stole the show at the 2021 Player Awards Evening after taking home three awards for his outstanding season.
Academy graduate Hill collected the One Day Player of the Year and also picked up the Fans’ and Players’ Player of the Year awards.
After extending his contract with Leicestershire, Hill said: “Last season was fantastic for me personally.
“To score as many runs as I did was great and to be able to captain Leicestershire in the Royal London Cup was a dream come true. I am delighted to have signed an extension at the Uptonsteel County Ground and I cannot wait to see where this squad can go in the future.”
Leicestershire director of cricket, Claude Henderson said: “We are extremely pleased that Lewis has agreed a contract extension here at the Uptonsteel County Ground.
“He had a very good 2021 with the bat and has shown his capabilities in all three formats.
“We look forward to seeing him push on in 2022.”
Meanwhile, Leicestershire have made their third signing for next season, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz joining fellow Afghanistan international Naveen Ul-Haq for the 2022 Vitality Blast campaign.
Gurbaz was selected to play at the T20 World Cup and scored a 37-ball 46 in their comprehensive victory over Scotland, including four sixes.
Having made his T20I debut at the age of 17, his stats at the top of the order are remarkable, having scored almost 500 runs at an average of 35.14 and with a best of 87. Gurbaz’ domestic T20 stats are just as impressive, with a total of 1,232 runs coming in the 48 innings played at an average of 25.66, with a best score of 99.
His international strike-rate is 141.78 and that rises to 152.85 across all domestic competitions, a trait that is sure to capture the imagination of Leicestershire supporters.
Not only does Gurbaz have the ability to change the game with the bat, he can also keep wicket, having done so a number of times on the international stage, and is a safe pair of hands in the field.
Gurbaz has played in a number of tournaments around the world, but this will be his first time playing professional cricket in England.
The 19-year-old said: “It has always been my dream to play county cricket.
“I can’t wait to join the Foxes at the Uptonsteel County Ground and from the moment I heard that there was interest, it was an easy decision to make.
“Naveen spoke so highly of the club and I was desperate to be part of that and show the fans what I can do.”
Foxes head coach Paul Nixon said: “We have been keeping a very close eye on Rahmanullah for a couple of years now.
“Rahmanullah is one of the most exciting young players in the modern game. His 360-degree clean power hitting ability is to be marvelled at.
“He has a class and a raw power fused into his game and it creates match-winning abilities.”
In women’s cricket, Lightning have signed Central Sparks batter Marie Kelly, left, as one of their six professionals for the 2022 season.
The 25-year-old made an unbeaten 100 off 53 balls against Southern Vipers in this summer’s Charlotte Edwards Cup.
Wicketkeeper Abbey Freeborn moves in the opposite direction, after making 161 20-over runs for Lightning in 2021.