BOLTON leg-spinner Matthew Parkinson has signed a new contract with Lancashire.

The 18-year-old England Under-19s star has committed his future to the Red Rose county after an encouraging first year on the professional staff.

Although the ex-Heaton spinner did not make a first-team appearance in 2015, he did take nine wickets on his under-19s Test debut against Australia at Durham in early August. That haul included first-innings figures of 6-130 before adding 3-92.

Lancashire cricket director and head coach Ashley Giles said: “Matty is another talented youngster we have, and he will play an important part for Lancashire in the future."

Lancashire announced the news of Parkinson's new deal this morning alongside that of first-team wicketkeeper and Young Player of the Year Alex Davies, aged 21.

Davies has also played for the England U19s, and during the most recent summer was one of only three wicketkeepers in either division of the LV= County Championship to record 50 dismissals or more alongside Bury-born John Simpson of Middlesex and Leicestershire’s Niall O’Brien.

Davies, who made his first XI debut as a 16-year-old in a one-day game against Glamorgan in 2011, also scored five half-centuries in the Championship.

He was named in the Professional Cricketers’ Association Team of the Year alongside England Test captain Alastair Cook.

Giles said: “Alex is an exciting talent, and is very much a key member of our squad – you almost seem to forget that he’s only 21.

“With Jos (Buttler) being away with England, Alex has stepped up and made excellent contributions not only with the gloves but also with the bat.”

Parkinson, who plays his league cricket with Urmston in the Cheshire County Premier League, and Davies are the latest players to pen new Lancashire contracts.

Stand-in captain Steven Croft, England spinner Stephen Parry, Kyle Jarvis Tom Bailey, Gavin Griffiths, Jordan Clark, Liam Livingstone and Arron Lilley have all done likewise in the last month.

Parkinson took 23 wickets in 13 second-team appearances for Lancashire during the most recent summer as he juggled cricket commitments with A-Level studies at Cannon Slade.

Meanwhile, Lancashire batsman Alviro Petersen has scored three successive centuries to start South Africa’s domestic one-day competition with a bang for his home team Highveld Lions.

Since October 10, Petersen has recorded scores of 100, 108 not out and 100.