Luke Hands signs first long-term professional deal with Lancashire Cricket
Lancashire Cricket is delighted to announce that Luke Hands has signed his first long-term professional contract with the Club until the end of the 2028 season.
Hands is a graduate of the Club’s Academy and pathway, having played age-group cricket and in the Second XI for the Red Rose. He has featured in First Team cricket over the last two seasons, holding short-term contracts during this period.
The 17-year-old has made appearances in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup both last season and in the current campaign. He has made six appearances for Lancashire so far, picking up four wickets. His best figures, 2-52, came against Warwickshire at Rugby School in this season’s One-Day Cup competition.
The all-rounder, who hails from Preston, was also part of the England U19s squad that finished as runners-up in the 2026 Under-19s World Cup, alongside Lancashire teammate Joe Moores, and featured in their Youth Test and One-Day series against Pakistan earlier this year.
Speaking after signing his contract, Luke Hands said: “I am delighted to sign my first long-term professional deal with Lancashire. I have worked hard to get this opportunity and I’m very grateful for all the help from the people around me, so it is certainly rewarding to earn this deal.
“Having had the chance to feature for the First Team a few times over the last couple of years, I have already learnt so much and feel like I have grown as a cricketer. I am excited to be in and around an experienced group and hopefully get more opportunities to play first-team cricket and show what I can do.”
Head Coach Steven Croft added: “We are really excited to have Luke join the playing staff full-time. In the appearances he has made so far, he has shown lots of promise and is driven and dedicated to improving as a cricketer.
“Not only is he a talented fast bowler, as he’s shown in First Team cricket, but he also has lots of skill with the bat. Luke adds quality and depth across all disciplines and has the potential to play an important role for us in the next couple of years.”
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