All-rounder Matt Critchley has signed a contract extension to remain at Essex till the tip of the 2027 season.
He joined from Derbyshire earlier than the 2022 season, and has performed 54 video games for Essex in all codecs, scoring 2,000 runs and taking 80 wickets.
The 27-year-old was the membership’s participant of the 12 months in 2023.
“I’ve felt like I’ve consistently been bettering since I have been right here, which was one of many primary causes I wished to remain,” he told the club website.
Critchley hit 132 on debut in opposition to Kent at Chelmsford within the County Championship in April 2022 and has added two extra first-class centuries since.
He additionally took a career-best 5-28 together with his leg-breaks within the T20 Blast in opposition to Middlesex final 12 months earlier than they misplaced to Somerset within the closing.
Essex will probably be on the lookout for Critchley to proceed his good kind with the bat with Sir Alastair Cook dinner retiring and Dan Lawrence shifting to Surrey.
“I’ve loved my first couple of years right here and I very a lot wished to remain,” Critchley added.
“Clearly, we have had a few modifications to the staff this winter, however we have made some good additions, so I am very a lot trying ahead to this 12 months and the subsequent few years.”
Head coach Anthony McGrath added: “His worth to the staff is large, and that was on full show together with his participant of the year-winning performances final 12 months.
“He is been working particularly arduous on his batting just lately, and that has introduced lots of optimistic outcomes. He is nice to work with, and we’re trying ahead to having him round for a very long time but.”