Bartlett pens new Somerset contract

GEORGE Bartlett has signed a contract extension with Somerset which will see him remain with the club until at least the end of the 2021 season.

The 20-year-old graduated from the Somerset Academy in 2016 and signed his first professional deal ahead of the 2017 season.

He made his debut in the County Championship match at Warwickshire in 2017. Since then, he has featured in a total of ten first-class matches, scoring over 400 runs.

The highlight of his Somerset career to date came last season when he made a maiden century against Lancashire. His innings of 110 came against an extremely strong attack that included Jimmy Anderson.

After signing his new deal, Bartlett said: “I’m delighted. As a young cricketer you aspire to become a professional, and for the club to show faith in me for another few years is brilliant.

“It’s now about taking it season by season and looking to improve every year.

“Playing for Somerset means a lot. When you grow up in the county and come through the Academy you can see what it means to everyone.

“You become part of the cricket family and you just want to do as well as you can for everyone involved with the team. It’s great to be a part of this club.

“I feel like I’ve shown glimpses of what I can do in the first team, so hopefully I can build on that this year and try to become a regular in the starting line-up.”