NEWS: Andrew Hodd signs after taking his chances

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Andrew Hodd, who initially signed on loan from Sussex in mid-August for the remainder of Yorkshire’s 2012 LV= County Championship season, has penned a two-year deal. Hodd has impressed sufficiently when deputising for Jonny Bairstow in the LV= County Championship to be awarded a contract until the end of the 2014 season.

In his three first-class outings for the Tykes the 28-year-old has held some stunning catches and contributed a debut 58 with the bat.

He made his first-class debut for Sussex in 2003 and has also spent time at Surrey. A former England Under-19 player, he had previously played 57 first-class matches, scored 2,006 runs at 29.07 with 4 centuries. He has also bagged 113 catches and performed 12 stumpings in the first-class game.

The Club view Hodd as an experienced pair of hands to take the gloves whenever Bairstow is unavailable due to his ever increasing England commitments.

Jason Gillespie, Yorkshire’s first team coach, said: “Andrew is one of the best keepers in the country and you want the best players in your team.In the short time he’s been with us he has taken some great catches, his energy behind the stumps has been first rate, he made some important runs for us against Derbyshire and we’ve been delighted with his attitude. We’ve got no qualms about signing him because he’s a great lad and a very good cricketer. When lads like that come along you snap them up.”

Andrew Hodd said: “I was lucky enough to get some runs on my Yorkshire debut, I’ve kept pretty well and I feel like I’ve been contributing. It’s great that the club have backed me and signed me. I’ve loved being in the Yorkshire changing room and the lads have been really good and welcoming towards me. The way that Jason Gillespie and Martyn Moxon have been talking with me has been really positive and although I’ve signed a two-year contract I feel part of the furniture already.”

Hodd added: “I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead with Yorkshire, but would also like to thank everyone at Sussex. I wish them all the best for the future and hope our paths cross in division one of the Championship next summer.”