Teenage pace bowler Bradley Sylvester is the toast of Cleckheaton Cricket Club currently, after earning a new deal at Yorkshire.

The 17-year-old, born in June 2007, is officially part of the county’s academy again for 2025, with the news announced earlier this week.

It is the perfect end to a brilliant year for the youngster, who has stepped up in adversity for Bradford Premier League side Cleck, while also getting some outings for Yorkshire’s second team.

With some key, experienced players leaving after their promotion, Sylvester was entrusted with opening the bowling for Cleckheaton at the age of just 16 in the Premier Division.

But he took 42 wickets for the team in the league last season, with only five other bowlers in the top-flight claiming more scalps.

His average of 19.52 was also the fifth-best in the league, among those taking 30 wickets or more.

Sylvester’s best analysis of 5-54 helped them earn a shock win over eventual champions New Farnley at the end of June, while a few weeks before that, he took 4-41, including a wicket from the last ball of the game, to secure a tie against Bradford & Bingley.

And in the end Sylvester’s heroics were instrumental as Cleckheaton escaped relegation on the final day, despite having spent the majority of the season in the bottom two.

Sylvester is the only male player from the Bradford Premier League to be selected for Yorkshire’s academy for 2025, but Wrenthorpe duo Emma Wrightson and Ellie Nightingale have been chosen for the women’s section.

As for the Emerging Players’ Programme, Subhaan Ali has been selected from New Farnley Cricket Club.