Cricket: Sky is the limit as Dent seals county deal (From Gazette Series)

Young Thornbury batsman Chris Dent earns Gloucestershire contract

9:26am Thursday 20th August 2009 in Sport By Rob Iles

YOUNG Thornbury cricketer Chris Dent has signed a two-year professional contract with Gloucestershire and could be set to make his competitive debut next Tuesday in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

The 18-year-old batsman met with director of cricket John Bracewell and chief executive Tom Richardson last week and completed the deal just before the county’s local derby against Somerset.

Although his contract doesn’t start until March next year, Dent trained with the first team squad as part of a five-week apprenticeship and will be with them for the rest of the season.

Now Gloucestershire’s hopes of winning the Pro40 title have faded, skipper Alex Gidman has vowed to give youngsters a chance for the rest of the campaign and Dent is in contention to face Hampshire’s England international bowlers Dimitri Mascarenhas and Chris Tremlett and Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis at the Rose Bowl.

“Obviously I’m pretty happy,” Dent told the Gazette after signing for Gloucestershire.

“I’ve been in the academy since I was 13 and this is what you aim for so all those years have paid off.

“I didn’t see it coming. I’ve done ok in the seconds but I wasn’t expecting it.”

If Dent makes his debut against Hampshire, it will be a whole new experience for him with Sky covering the floodlit game but he says he feels ready for his first team opportunity.

He said: “I’ve only trained under floodlights and it’s quite tricky, so it’s a new experience and something to get used to.

“The second team is competitive but I feel ready to give it a go.”

Dent, who scored his first century for the seconds against Northamptonshire earlier this summer, joined up with the first team squad for a three-day fixture against Bradford/Leeds UCCE in June.

He gained a lot from that experience and says he now feels comfortable around the senior players having been involved with them for a while.

Dent said: “It was a different intensity to second team cricket and club cricket, it was a good challenge and the standard was a lot higher.

He added: “It’s been a really good season, just what I’ve been working towards.”

Dent, who has been at Thornbury since under-13 level, follows in the footsteps of Neil Stovold and Damian Forder to have come through the ranks at the club and sign for the county.

Thornbury youth chairman Howard Marshall said: “The club is really pleased to see our youth policy work so well.”

England under-19 bowler David Payne has also signed a two-year contract.

Gloucestershire Academy Director, Owen Dawkins, said: “I am delighted for both players, they have worked incredibly hard whilst being part of the Academy.

“It is great to see these talented young players coming through the Academy here and is great for the emerging young cricketers of the county to see what can be achieved.”

Along with bowler Gemaal Hussain, Gidman has said Dent and Payne are set to feature at some stage this season.

He said: “The Pro40 offers us an opportunity to see what they can do ahead of next season.”