Aaryan Sawant [Middlesex Cricket]

MIDDLESEX continued their run of developing bright young talent this week when they announced that Aaryan Sawant has put pen to paper on his first professional contract.

The club, which plays out of Lord’s cricket ground in St John’s Wood, has a reputation for nurturing emerging players. In recent years, Islington’s Luke Hollman and Westminster’s Ethan Bamber have been among the cricketers who have gone on to represent Middlesex’s first XI.

Highly-rated batter Sawant is the latest name to emerge, and he has committed his future to the club until at least the end of the 2026 season.

The 18-year-old made a huge impression in the club’s Elite Player Group (EPG) programme before going on to make his second XI debut at the age of just 15 in 2021.

Earlier this year, he notched his first century for the second XI in Championship cricket, hitting an unbeaten hundred against Hampshire. He followed that up by scoring 70 in his very next game against Essex and then recording knocks of 72 in the first innings and a match-winning, unbeaten 173 in the second innings against Yorkshire.

“It’s an honour to have signed for my boyhood club of Middlesex,” said Sawant. “I’m grateful to have been given this opportunity, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Managing director of cricket at Middlesex, Alan Coleman, added: “There’s nothing better than when one of the youngsters you’ve seen develop through your programme makes the next step in their career and signs professionally with the club.

“Aaryan is an exceptionally talented young batter who has a huge future in the game, and he’s already proved that he’s got what’s required to make the step up to the next level.

“He is a batter that’s got all the attributes to succeed in the game, with a brilliant work ethic, natural talent, sublime timing, and destructive power when it’s needed. We can’t wait to see how Aaryan progresses over the next couple of years and wish him every success as he makes his first steps as a young professional cricketer.”