Worcestershire are delighted to announce that promising spinner Tom Hinley has signed a one year rookie professional contract for the 2025 campaign.
The 21-year-old is determined to try and make the most of his second opportunity in the professional game after being released by Sussex two years ago.
Hinley, who is also studying for a Sports Science degree at Loughborough University, has put pen to paper after making his mark with the ball for the Rapids during the Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign.
After a successful trial period with the Seconds in the ECB T20 competition, Hinley was promoted to the first team squad on a short term contract.
He picked up 13 wickets, including a five-for in the home win over Durham, and played all nine One Day Cup matches, forming a productive partnership with on loan Nottinghamshire spinner, Fateh Singh, during the middle overs of the innings.
Hinley, who has also played National Counties cricket for Oxfordshire this summer, returned to Seconds action with Worcestershire last week and picked up seven wickets against Middlesex in the Championship game at Radlett.
Hinley said: said: “It’s a great opportunity for me. I’ve been working hard for the last few years, and now it’s paying off and hopefully I can make the most of it.
“But this year with winning the European T10 Cricket Championship in Spain with the National Counties and then involved with their Challenger team made me feel I was a little bit back closer to the professional game.
“Then all the One Day Cup stuff happened with Worcestershire and reaffirmed I’m not as far away as I thought I was a year ago.”
Hinley picked up five wickets in just his second appearance, against Durham as an inexperienced Rapids side reached the quarter-finals.
He said: “It was nice to get off the mark, and beating Middlesex comprehensively in the first game made us think as a group that we can actually do very well with a young side.
“To do well for me against Durham and contribute to a win gave me the foundation to go out and enjoy it, not feel too much pressure.
“It was amazing to get through to the quarter-finals and we almost got through that as well.
“I enjoyed bowling with Fateh but it helped the seamers getting early wickets and gives us as spinners more chance to settle in without the batters coming as hard at us.”
Worcestershire Head Coach, Alan Richardson, said: “Delighted for Tom to be given this rookie contract and he certainly showed his potential in the One Day Cup.
“We knew we would like some spinners in and around the squad, with Dolly undertaking rehab on his shoulder during the tournament, and it was an opportunity to have a look around.
“Tom had done well for the Seconds in the T20 competition, and he and Fateh did a great job in the middle part of the innings.
“He was one of young lads who came into the squad and adapted and adjusted brilliantly well and held themselves together really well in terms of playing first team cricket.
“It is well documented about our injury list but with every challenge you have means there is an amazing opportunity for someone else, and some of those guys including Tom came in and did really well.
“Lots of players go away from the professional game for a while and then strive to return and we wish Tom all the best with achieving his goals. He is very hungry to succeed and look forward to him being involved with us.”
