HARRISON Ward said he has had his ‘best summer yet’ after signing a two-year deal with Sussex Academy.

The 15-year-old put pen to paper at St Edward’s School, Oxford, where he is a pupil, yesterday afternoon.

It has been a whirlwind few months for the opener, who became the youngest player to score a century for Oxfordshire when he made his Minor Counties debut in July.

He also played his first game in the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League debut for Horspath this season and featured at the ECB Bunbury Festival.

Ward said: “It has been a really exciting and enjoyable summer.

“It has been great fun playing with some great players – it has been my best summer yet.

“I have a lot of hard work in front of me now to get myself through the winter, impress the guys at Sussex and see what next summer brings.”

He continued: “I’ve loved the challenges of starting to play Premier League and Minor Counties cricket, but I also had the privilege of attending the Bunbury Festival.

“I am really excited about the opportunity I now have with Sussex.”

Ward, who was a member of Gloucestershire’s junior academy, said he did receive offers from other counties, but made up his mind after seeing the facilities at Sussex, to whom Oxon are a feeder county.

He added “I went down to Hove to have a look around.

“I was impressed with the facilities and what they had to offer me.”

Keith Greenfield, Sussex Academy director, added: “Harrison has done exceptionally well to earn this place on our Academy.”

Magdalen College School student Tom Price, who plays for Abingdon Vale, signed a county academy contract last month, accepting a place at Gloucestershire.