WORCESTERSHIRE have rewarded promising youngsters Jack Haynes and Josh Dell with their first professional contracts.

Malvern College pupil Haynes, the son of former County all-rounder Gavin Haynes, has put pen to paper until the end of the 2020 campaign.

Batsman Dell has signed a contract until the end of the 2019 season and both are products of Worcestershire’s flourishing academy system.

Haynes has demonstrated his potential from an early age and in March was part of the County squad for the pre-season trip to Abu Dhabi.

He scored his first century for the seconds last month in the Trophy against Nottinghamshire at Kidderminster after making his debut at the level last summer.

Worcester-born Haynes, 17, who will complete his studies next year before joining the County staff full-time, has been a member of the academy intake for three years at Blackfinch New Road.

He was twice selected for the prestigious Bunbury Festival and also the Super Fours.

Worcestershire academy coach Elliot Wilson, who has overseen much of Haynes' progress, said: “It has been really pleasing to see a player with such prodigious talent as a

youngster develop into the player he is today.

“It can be easy to lose your way but he has kept ahead of the game and that is credit to Jack and also to Gavin who has been a huge part of his development into the player he is.

“His innings against Nottinghamshire was special and hopefully there will be many more to come.”

Tenbury-born Dell, 20, has received his first contract after a series of impressive displays and consistency with the bat this summer including his maiden hundred

for the seconds against Lancashire in the Championship match at Barnt Green.

He was part of the academy intake for three years.

Dell also represented the Bunburys and Super Fours and in 2016 played two Tests and one one-day international for England under 19s in the summer series against Sri Lanka when five Worcestershire players were selected for the initial squad.

Wilson said: “We were very hopeful of him initially but he stalled around the time he was selected for the under 19s.

“But since he has got back from playing in Australia this winter (for Midland-Guildford) he has stepped up, been outstanding and back to the cricketer we saw as a 16 to 17-year-old.

“Josh fully deserves his contract after transitioning from being part of the academy into a full-time professional cricketer.”