Procter handed Lancs contract

ROYTON’S Luke Procter is celebrating after being handed a professional contract for the 2010 season by Lancashire County Cricket Club, writes KEITH McHUGH.

The 21-year-old Oldhamer has been rewarded for his efforts for the county’s second team, whom he helped to the Second X1 County Championship and One-Day Trophy finals this summer.

Primarily a batsman for Lancashire, Procter was picked for the county’s academy before earning a scholarship contract.

He has been professional at Royton in the Lake Garage CLL for two full seasons during which his exploits as an all-rounder have earned glowing praise.

Procter has signed for Royton for next season, but if he is required to play for Lancashire’s first team, The Paddock outfit will be able to field a deputy.

Procter made his senior debut for Lancashire in Sunday’s Pro40 Division Two match against Warwickshire at Old Trafford.

He is currently nursing a broken thumb sustained while batting against Warwickshire paceman Neil Carter and is likely to be out of action for up to five weeks.

Procter is hoping to make a speedy recovery as he travels to Australia in three weeks’ time to be a part of former Aussie Test star Darren Lehman’s academy for home and overseas players. He returns to England in February.

“Lancashire are sending me and the trip is being sponsored by the ECB,” said Procter. “We will play academy matches during the week and club matches at weekend, though I am not sure who I will be playing for at the moment.”