Son of former England cricket captain signs first professional contract with Somerset - as top-order batter and off-spinner pens two-year deal

The son of a former England captain has signed his first professional contract in county cricket.

Somerset announced the youngster, 18, had penned a two-year deal that will begin on November 1 and run across the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

The top order batter and off-spinner has been part of the club's academy since 2020 and made his second XI debut in 2022.

The proud parent in question is Michael Vaughan, who captained England's Test team from 2003 to 2008, with the highlight of his tenure being an iconic Ashes series victory in 2005. 

Archie is now set to follow in his footsteps in the professional game and will hope to emulate his father, who played 82 Tests, 86 ODIs and two T20is for his country.

Speaking after his contract was announced, Archie expressed his delight as he said: 'It's something that I've worked extremely hard for and it's something that I've strived for since I was a kid.

'So to get the opportunity for a club where I've really enjoyed myself over the last few years is an honour.'

Somerset Director of Cricket Andy Hurry added: 'Archie is a young man with a bright future ahead of him. 

'Since joining the academy he has demonstrated a genuine and strong desire to work incredibly hard and improve every facet of his game.

'We are really looking forward to helping him develop and grow both his game and his understanding of the professional game.' 

Posting on X in response to the news which was accompanied by a picture of Archie as a youngster in one post, Michael simply added: 'Clearly gets his hair from me.'

After making his England Test debut in 1999 at the age of 25, Michael - who played county cricket for Yorkshire - became the first captain to guide his country to an Ashes series win since 1987.

Across 82 Tests, he struck 18 centuries and retired in 2008 with an extremely healthy average of 41.44.

He was less successful in white ball cricket as he averaged just 27.15 in 86 ODIs, although he did captain the team between 2003 to 2007.

Since retiring in 2009, he has become a hard-hitting pundit, with Michael not afraid to ruffle feathers with his views.

Archie is not the first member of a second generation of 2005 Ashes winners to make their name in the game, with Andrew Flintoff's sons - Rocky and Corey, featuring for Lancashire's second XI this season. 

Rocky, 16, even struck a stunning hundred against Warwickshire last month to put the wider cricketing world on alert of his talent.