Yorkshire give Isaac Bepey and Brad Sylvester two-year rookie deals

Yorkshire have signed bowlers Isaac Bepey and Brad Sylvester to two-year rookie contracts, the club announced on September 25. Both agreements are the players' first professional deals.

Left-armer Bepey came to Yorkshire's attention at Leeds UCCE and spent much of this year on trial with Tom Smith's second XI. He took three wickets against Hampshire on his senior debut at Scarborough in the One Day Cup.

Sylvester, a right-arm seamer from Huddersfield, has progressed through Yorkshire's academy. He played two Tests for England Under-19s this year and has repeatedly been included in Anthony McGrath's senior squads, including for the current fixture at Trent Bridge.

The club's earlier match reports document Bepey's contributions before the contract announcement. In a second-XI T20 double-header against SACA reported on May 24, he took four wickets for 28 in the second game as Yorkshire won by two runs. SACA needed nine from the final over, which Bepey bowled, and three from the last delivery. He finished the match by having Sheikh caught at point by Jawad Akhtar. Sylvester also contributed, removing Khunti for 56 after the batter had hit six fours and two sixes in his 37-ball innings.

Both bowlers also featured in Yorkshire's second-XI Championship victory over Essex, detailed in the club's June 16 report. Defending a target of 354, Yorkshire won by 143 runs. Sylvester bowled Das for 17 early in the chase, while Bepey dismissed Fernandes and later removed Zeb for 73. Bepey then struck twice in the same over to dismiss Lockrose and Rashid, leaving Essex seven wickets down for 187. Those dismissals helped Yorkshire move towards a win that temporarily put them at the top of their group.

General manager of cricket Gavin Hamilton said the contracts rewarded the pair's ability and work during the year. He highlighted the variety offered by Bepey's left-arm bowling and identified Sylvester's England youth recognition as evidence of his potential. He also stressed the importance of fast-bowling depth.