STAFFORDSHIRE seamer Rory Haydon has signed a three-year contract with Derbyshire having impressed in their recent Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign.
Haydon, 22, is a former Warwickshire Academy player who left Edgbaston at the end of the 2023 season without being offered a professional contract.
Instead, Stoke-based Haydon returned to National Counties cricket with Staffordshire and for the National Counties and Challengers representative sides where his consistent performances, including helping to retain the European T10 Championship in Spain last October – attracted Derbyshire’s interest.
Having trialled with Derbyshire’s Second XI over the last two seasons, Haydon signed a short-term contract for the Metro Bank Cup and his performances – including three for 59 against Worcestershire at Repton School three weeks ago – helped to secure a long-term contract.
Haydon is the second National Counties player to sign a multi-year contract with Derbyshire following Bedfordshire batter Amrit Basra, who also impressed in the Metro Bank Cup. Haydon joins his Staffordshire team-mate, off-spinner Joe Hawkins, on the staff at Derbyshire along with eight more players – Ben Aitchison (Cheshire), Martin Andersson (Berkshire), Pat Brown (Lincolnshire), Aneurin Donald (Wales), David Lloyd (Wales), Alex Thomson (Staffordshire), Ross Whiteley (Dorset) and Harry Came (Dorset) – with National Counties experience.
Staffordshire also played an important role in the development of Matt and Callum Parkinson – who are now playing for Kent and Durham respectively – and Warwickshire batter Zen Malik and also gave Dan Mousley and Rob Yates (Warwickshire) and Ethan Brookes (Worcestershire) valuable exposure to senior county cricket early in their respective careers.
“Rory has been very impressive during his time with us so far. He has shown no fear when going up against experienced batting lineups and he is a welcome addition to our red ball attack,” said Derbyshire’s Head of cricket Mickey Arthur.
“He has great ability, but it’s Rory’s potential which excites us most. He will have a full winter to continue his development as part of our squad. We have seen off interest from other counties to secure his future and we look forward to seeing him go from strength to strength.”
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