Swardeston’s Newton lands new contract with Northants

Swardeston batsman Rob Newton has been rewarded for his strong finish to the season with a two-year extension to his Northamptonshire contract.

Newton, 21, had to wait for his first team chance this year, but featured strongly in all formats for the county in the second half of the campaign. He scored the second first class century of his career in the County Championship match against Middlesex in August and followed up with 80 against Surrey in the following match.

He told the Northamptonshire website: 'I'm pleased that the progress I've made has been recognised. I look forward to becoming a key player for Northants over the next two years.

'I'm delighted to have signed on and I'm looking forward to the next stage in my career.'

Fellow prospect, wicketkeeper batsman David Murphy has also extended his contract to 2013 and head coach, former England all-rounder David Capel, said: 'Both Rob and David are talented and exciting cricketers and I'm delighted they have committed their futures to Northants Cricket.'

Capel added: 'I think at the end of the season Rob really did start to come through, taking the opportunity to open the batting. To see him knuckle down and rein things in has actually made him work.

'I think he realised that and has sharpened his game up a bit. It will be a big winter for him where he will want to get stronger, getting to how he wants to be.'

Newton had 14 first class innings for Northants during the 2011 season, hitting 478 runs at an average of 36.76. He also played in five CB40 matches, scoring 121 runs and in six Twenty20 games, hitting 64 runs.

Newton was not the only Norfolk product to feature in the Northants side this summer, with Vauxhall Mallards teenager Olly Stone – who also made his Norfolk debut this year – playing in a T20 match against Durham in July.