Glamorgan Cricket are pleased to announce that Callum Taylor, Kazi Szymanski and Jamie McIlroy have all signed one-year deals ahead of the 2019 season - their first professional contracts with the Club.
Taylor (20) Szymanski (19) and McIlroy (24) have all impressed in the 2nd XI over the last couple of seasons.
Born in Newport, Taylor plays club cricket for Newport Cricket Club in the South Wales Premier League. The middle order batsman and off-spinner also featured regularly in the Glamorgan 2nd XI last year and struck three half-centuries during the 2nd XI Championship. Due to his impressive form he was rewarded with a call up to the Vitality Blast squad during the summer.
Academy graduate Szymanski (19), a right-arm seamer from Torquay, took 8/21 in the 2nd XI Championship against Sussex last season. He played in Australia over the winter for Fairfield-Liverpool Cricket Club and took 24 wickets during his stay, including that of Australian Test player Peter Nevill.
McIlroy, a left-arm seamer from Hereford, made a number of appearances for Herefordshire in Minor Counties cricket last year. He took 20 wickets in the competition, and took a further 11 wickets for Glamorgan in the 2nd XI.
Director of cricket, Mark Wallace, said: “I am delighted that Jamie, Callum and Kazi have all committed their futures to Glamorgan.
“They’ve all got the qualities required to play first team cricket and that’s why we’ve brought them on board.
“Callum has been one of the more outstanding players in the South Wales Premier League over the last few years, he’s excelled in the Minor Counties, and taken his chance in the 2nd XI. Hopefully the route he has taken to a full contract through performing in the league and climbing the ladder will inspire others to set about following a similar route.
“Jamie is a little older and has come on the radar over the last few years in 2nd XI cricket. He’s on a dual contract with Glamorgan and the MCC Young Cricketers, so he’ll get cricket with our 2nd XI and then around the country with them. Having that link with Lord’s is something that we used to have and we are trying to develop again.
“Kazi has shown himself to have the potential to change a game, he took 8-21 against Sussex last year, and his performances for Torquay, Wales and the 2nd XI means he has earned a chance to keep progressing.”