Durham reward teenage left-armer James Minto with two-year deal running to 2028

Minto signs on at the Riverside

Durham have agreed a two-year professional contract with promising young bowling all-rounder James Minto, tying the 18-year-old to the club until the end of the 2028 season.

The left-arm seamer has progressed upwards from a rookie contract, a reward for a rapid rise through the county's ranks that began when he was still a schoolboy.

A record-breaking start

Minto played his maiden first-class game against Surrey two years ago when he was still only 16, and he has now played seven matches at that level, taking 14 wickets. His best first-class figures of 5-21 came in a match against Zimbabwe A in Harare.

His batting has also caught the eye. He became the youngest player to score a half-century for Durham when he hit 67 against Nottinghamshire in 2025, aged 17.

The England Under-19 international has also represented his county in the One-Day Cup and in a single T20 Blast game.

'Huge amount of potential'

Durham director of cricket Ryan Campbell said the new deal reflected two seasons of consistent progress.

"Minty is a player with a huge amount of potential and it is extremely pleasing to see him rewarded for the excellent performances he has put in for Durham over the last couple of seasons," Campbell said.

"He has performed well when given the opportunity for Durham and England Young Lions in recent times and we look forward to seeing him evolve with both bat and ball in the coming years."

Minto's contract runs through to the end of the 2028 campaign, giving Durham long-term security over a player they believe can develop into a genuine all-round option across formats.