YOUNG Reading cricketer Martin Andersson has been given a three-year summer contract by Middlesex CCC, writes Dave Wright.

The 19-year-old all-rounder is a graduate of the Middlesex Academy and a member of the England Under-19 Development squad.

The former Blue Coat School pupil is currently studying at Leeds University and his contract with Middlesex will enable him to work around his educational commitments.

Middlesex director of cricket, Angus Fraser commented, “Martin is currently studying at Leeds University and the contract will work around his educational and university commitments.

"All-rounders are hard to come by and in Martin we have an exciting young player of this type."

Danny Hall, Berkshire’s director of cricket added: “Having been so instrumental in his development, we in Berkshire are delighted for Martin and know he is in good hands with Middlesex.

"When commitments allow, we will be delighted to see him continue to contribute to Berkshire cricket. This is just another example of how Berkshire Cricket is providing a pathway for young players of promise to progress to the very top of the game.”

Andersson has played a major role for Reading CC in recent seasons, helping them to finish fourth in the Home Counties Premier League last year.

He will still be in Leeds for the first six weeks of the next season, but has not ruled out travelling down to play for the club on a Saturday.

Reading’s leading batsman for the last three seasons, Praful Waghela, will not be returning for a fourth, as he has decided to rejoin his former club, Bristol-based Downend.

It is another blow for the club, as long-serving skipper David Hartley has given up the captaincy after moving to Devon and Andy Rishton is expected to join league rivals Finchampstead.

They have also lost one of their sponsors, Virtek, with the company going out of business.

New captain Bobby Malik is now in the process of rebuilding his team.

Women's cricket

NICK Denning, the former Berkshire bowler who has been coaching the county women’s team, has been announced as the head coach of the new Hampshire-based Women’s Cricket Super League team.

Berkshire are one of the participating partners in the franchise and Denning said: “It’s very exciting. New challenges get me out of bed in the morning, so I’m looking forward to getting started.

“The biggest challenge will be getting a group of players who are used to being rivals, to gel together on a cricket pitch.

“Setting goals at this early stage is quite difficult, but the ultimate target will be to make it to finals day and then build on that for the following year.”

Denning – who will work closely alongside General Manager Bobby Parks – is familiar with Hampshire Cricket having spent three years in the club’s youth set-up before spending a year in county cricket with Essex.

His new charges will be one of the six teams competing in the inaugural Women’s Cricket Super League.

The competition will start this summer with the Ageas Bowl based team competing in a Twenty20 event against the other five teams.