Abidine Sakande has been tipped to make a name for himself at Sussex after being handed his first professional contract.

The 22-year-old has agreed a two-year deal with the county after breaking into the first team at Hove last season.

Sakande made his Sussex debut in the tour match against Pakistan and also featured in the Royal London One Day Cup clash with Kent Spitfires at Hove.

The former Ardingly College pupil follows fellow young seamers Jofra Archer, George Garton and Stuart Whittingham in committing their futures to Sussex and head coach Mark Davis is excited by his potential.

Davis said: “Abi has shown continued development over the past year and to have another fast bowler come through the ranks is encouraging for the club. He is a very dedicated young man and has every chance of becoming a permanent member of the first team.”

Sakande has been capped at England under-19 level and played four first-class matches for Oxford University, where he graduated from in the summer.

The right-arm seamer is set to play for Central Districts in New Zealand this winter alongside Ross Taylor – who had a spell as overseas playing with Sussex last season – and hopes to be pushing for a place in the first team at Hove next year.

He said: “I’ve been at the club since I was 12 and I’ve wanted this for a long, long time so I’m really proud to finally be given the opportunity.

“I was on the fringes of the first team last season which was a really good experience and has made me hungry to go out there and stop running the drinks and be on the pitch instead.

“Having a couple of years means I can really build my progress in the team. It means you don’t have to put yourself under too much pressure to do everything in the first year.

“I’m really looking forward to going to New Zealand to play for six months. I had a shortened season due to exams and injury this year so it will give me the chance to develop my skills so I can then hit the ground running when I return and try to get an opportunity in the first team.”