Nottinghamshire seamer James Hayes has signed a two-year contract with the club, keeping him at Trent Bridge until the conclusion of the 2024 season.
The 21-year-old initially earned a one-year deal in 2021 after a spell on trial and has gone on to feature heavily in Second XI cricket, garnering 21 scalps in seven Championship games this season.
He made his professional debut for the Green and Golds in this year’s Royal London Cup fixture, finishing with creditable figures of 2-58 from ten overs in a high-scoring contest against Middlesex at Grantham.
“My game has come on massively in the last 18 months, and getting this extension feels like a reward for the work I have put in to improve physically and technically,” said Hayes.
“I need to thank those who have been a part of that process, including coaches and players who have shown me what is required to perform at this level.
“To get the opportunity to remain for two more years provides a bit of security, and I am really excited to see how I can continue to progress in that time.”
Hayes’ 2022 pre-season was his first in a professional set-up, a spell which paid dividends in only his third red ball fixture of the season, where he took career-best figures of 5-20 from 12 overs in a Second XI Championship fixture against Warwickshire. In May, he went on to record his best Second XI T20 figures of 4-18 against Lancashire.
“What I love about James is that he combines being really humble and grateful for the experience with belief in his ability, a strong desire to learn and a determination to put in the hard work needed to get better,” said Head Coach Peter Moores.
“He has a point of difference with his pace, and how much he has learned from being in a professional environment has been clear to see in his performances this year.
“Developing upcoming talent like James, increasing the pool and quality of players pushing for selection across all formats, is a big part of what we are about as a club.
“He has a great working relationship with our coaches, and with Kevin Shine as his mentor in particular, and we are excited about what the future might bring.”
******
The Royal London Cup Final
The timeless pomp, ceremony and tradition of county cricket's historic 50-over final is soon to take place at Trent Bridge.
Lancashire and Kent will go head-to-head in the showpiece finale of the Royal London Cup at our historic home on Saturday 17 September.