YOUNG pace duo Pat Brown and Adam Finch have signed their first professional contracts with Worcestershire.

Brown will take up a one-year contract from October 2019 after completing the final two years of a Scholarship at Worcester University – a path also trodden by Daryl Mitchell, George Rhodes and Dillon Pennington.

Finch will begin a 12-month contract from this October when he has completed his ‘A’ levels at Oldswinford Hospital School.

The pair are the latest in a long line of academy products to make the step up into the professional ranks.

Nineteen-year-old Brown broke into the first-team last summer wen making six appearances in the T20 Blast games.

The Peterborough born player also played in four of the final five Specsavers County Championship matches of the campaign and experienced the joy of being promoted to Division One.

Finch, 17, has been a late developer but quickly made up for lost time.

He impressed in the Seconds last summer taking five wickets in an innings against a powerful Yorkshire side at RGS Worcester.

The Wordsley born player made his England Under-19 debut against India and was then part of the side which took part in the ICC World Cup this winter along with County colleague Dillon Pennington.

Head coach Kevin Sharp said: “Pat made a good impression last summer when breaking into the first team and is just one of a young crop of bowlers who will be challenging for a first-team spot this summer.

“Adam is a bit younger but also has great potential and it was a real feather in his cap and for the club to see him and Dillon Pennington playing together in the Under-19 World Cup.

“We are delighted the pair of them will take up professional contracts after completing their studies.”

Academy coach Elliot Wilson said: “Pat came to prominence with members and supporters last summer when he got opportunities to play in the T20 side and showed he had some character.

“Then he was able to force his way into the Championship side as well and play as that fifth seamer who had the ability to come on and make things happen and try and take wickets and he did that very well.

“He has got more to his game than that but is exciting in terms of the pace he can bowl at, the skills he has got, his work ethic, his desire to improve.

“He shows plenty of aggression and that will be his challenge, to get the balance right with that.

“Pat has got this year and next year at the University of Worcester and has then signed a professional contract for the first year out of University.”

Wilson added: “Adam has had a very exciting winter. He was actually close last pre-season to going to Abu Dhabi with the professionals.

“He did well as a regular and consistent performer in second team cricket last summer.

“It was at that point that the club were already keen to give him some support for his last year at school in the form of a scholarship and then a professional deal.

“He then gained selection into the England Under-19 squad and selection for this winter for the World Cup.

“Adam was someone we liked the look of as a 15-year-old but he lacked conditioning and was a little bit injury prone.

“He spent a long time getting himself fit and he is now turned himself into a really good athlete and it is quite exciting to see where he can go in the next three to five years.”