GLOUCESTERSHIRE director of cricket John Bracewell tipped Chris Dent as a future star for county and country after he signed a new three-year-contract.

The Thornbury youth product, 19, played in all 16 County Championship matches this year in his first full season and scored 725 runs at an average of 25.89, narrowly missing out on a maiden century on three occasions with a highest score of 98.

With Gloucestershire expected to lose senior stars Will Porterfield, Anthony Ireland and Gemaal Hussain, and Steve Kirby having already moved to local rivals Somerset, Bracewell described Dent’s decision to sign a long-term deal as a great boost for the club.

He said: “Chris is a young guy with as much potential as any 19-year-old batsman in the country.

“With the right ambition, his talents will be of value, not only to Gloucestershire, but to England in years to come.”

The England Under-19 batsman is heading off to Australia on Monday to play club cricket in Perth and work at an academy through the winter, returning in March.

Dent can now look forward to the trip with the security of a new deal and is looking forward to building on the immense progress he made with Gloucestershire this summer.

He said: “I really enjoyed the season and hopefully I will come back from Australia fitter, stronger and ready to make more runs next summer.”

Gloucestershire chief executive Tom Richardson also welcomed the signing.

“Chris is a key figure in our plans for a young and vibrant team next season,” he said.

Gloucestershire are fighting to hold onto Porterfield and Ireland, although it is understood they are on the brink of joining Surrey and Middlesex respectively and announcements on their futures could be made today.

Hussain was Gloucestershire’s Players’ Player of the Year after taking 67 first class wickets at 22.34 and has attracted the interest of a host of clubs with Nottinghamshire favourites to snap him up.

Meanwhile, Gloucestershire have announced a new partnership for their Academy with Wycliffe College in Stroud.

Following the recent success of their link with Filton College and the subsequent players emerging onto the Academy, the link has now been extended to two other schools.

Wycliffe College and St Edwards in Oxford have offered cricket scholarships to players on Gloucestershire’s Academy and Junior Academy.

As with Filton College, these schools will be supporting a full cricket programme alongside their education aiming to ensure players are able to achieve excellence in both.

Richardson said: “The club has had a strong focus on young cricketers in recent years and we have made some very good strides.

“The Academy has produced some excellent cricketers who have progressed through the system to make regular appearances in the first XI.

“I am sure that these links will offer a great deal to our emerging young players and I look forward to welcoming even more young cricketing talent to Gloucestershire.”