Staffordshire Cricket have strengthened their links with Warwickshire following the creation of a new partnership.

Warwickshire had initially joined forces with their neighbours in South Staffs with a pathway for the development of young players.

But an extended agreement has now been put in place to cover all of Staffordshire - which will benefit both junior and senior cricketers.

Staffs youngsters already benefit from dedicated coaching sessions each week, but the new link-up means that more players will be able to join Warwickshire's Academy and their Emerging Player Programme (EPP).

Older age-group players will be also be in contention to feature for the Bears' second team and minor counties fixtures for Staffordshire.

Staffordshire Cricket development director Jason Britton said: “We’re delighted to be working with Warwickshire and to be formalising a partnership that’s been developing for some time now.

"All parties have absolutely bought into the relationship and we’ll be working hard to ensure that our players, coaches and clubs have the opportunity to benefit from it.”

Commercially, Warwickshire and Staffordshire will collaborate on marketing for Birmingham Bears Vitality Blast matches, with recreational cricket clubs in Staffordshire being able to benefit from cashback on tickets and an opportunity to participate in the annual All Stars Day for players aged five to eight-years-old.

The counties already had strong player links in place.

In recent years, Staffordshire trio Alex Mellor, Liam Banks and Alex Thomson have all progressed through to the Warwickshire first team.

Warwickshire chief executive Neil Snowball added: "We’re thrilled to extend this relationship with Staffordshire Cricket to a more formal partnership, which provides joint-working opportunities whilst also giving its male cricketers greater access to elite level coaching and expanding our talent pool.

“This partnership is in the early stages and there are other areas that we would love to develop, including extending the pathway to the women and girls’ game.

"However, in the meantime we hope that our work with these young male cricketers can help them develop and go further in the game, whether that be at Minor County level with Staffordshire or in the first-class game with Warwickshire.”