Nottinghamshire have added to their battery of fast bowlers by signing exciting young local prospect Luke Fletcher on a one-year contract.

The 19-year-old from Bulwell was a regular for the Second XI last season and has spent the winter working at Trent Bridge while attending fitness sessions with the team.

He was part of the squad who have just returned from a pre-season tour of South Africa and performed well in front of Director of Cricket Mick Newell, who believes he has plenty of potential.

Newell said: “Luke has worked very hard over the winter and has impressed all the coaching staff over the past 12 months.

“He’s definitely someone we want to continue looking at over a longer period of time and will be expected to provide competition and pressure on the first-team bowlers.

“It’s nice to have another local lad in the squad and I know how keen he is to make a career in cricket, and play for Notts.”

Fletcher, who stands 6ft 6ins tall, plays for Papplewick in the Notts Premier League alongside Notts bowling coach Phil DeFreitas and is delighted to have joined the staff at Trent Bridge.

He said: “Phil was one of the first to say to me that if I put in the effort I might have a chance of making it as a pro. I’d never really taken cricket seriously up to last year and having worked hard to get this far, I’m not stopping now.

“Last summer I was a bit star-struck when I was around the dressing room but having spent time with the players on pre-season, I now feel settled in and a full part of the squad.

“I can’t wait for the season to start and I’m determined to push on from here for a first-team place before the end of the season.”