Trio sign contract extensions at county
Following the announcements that Josh Davey and James Hildreth had signed contract extensions at Somerset, England bowler Jack Leach has now also pledged his future to the county.
The 29-year-old’s current contract was due to expire at the end of 2022, but Leach has signed a twoyear extension which will see him play for the club he supported as a boy until at least the end of the 2024 season.
Leach was instrumental for England during their 2-0 Test Series victory over Sri Lanka with ten wickets and a run out across the two matches and is in the squad to face India in another Test Series which begins tomorrow.
The spinner successfully progressed through the Somerset Age Group Pathway before making his debut for the county against South Africa in 2012. He has since taken 240 wickets for Somerset and 44 for England in just 12 Test matches at an average of just 30.50.
After signing, Leach said: “I am very excited to have signed an extension with Somerset. It is a proud day for me and my family.
“I would like to thank Andy Hurry, Jason Kerr, all the coaches, the staff and my teammates for their support. I would also like to thank the members and fans. I would like to send my best to them at this difficult time and say how much we miss you. We can’t wait to have you back.
“I am very excited about what we can achieve as a group. There is a good feeling around the boys, and I can’t wait for the season to start.”
Somerset director of cricket, Andy Hurry, said: “To put it in simple terms, Jack Leach is an outstanding cricketer. Not only is he a bowler of the very highest calibre, he is also exactly the kind of character you want in your team environment.
“His drive and determination to succeed are second to none and his will to win is unquestionable. We all saw that in his performance with the bat at Headingley in the last Ashes series. What people don’t see is the amount of hard work that he puts in behind the scenes. His training ethic is exemplary, and he is always willing to go that extra mile to help the younger players within the squad.
“Jack has had to overcome a number of hurdles during the last few years and on every occasion he has come back stronger and better. He sets a great example, and I am delighted that we will continue to see him representing the club that means so much to him.”
Somerset CEO, Gordon Hollins, added: “In the current environment it is challenging for the club to balance essential financial prudence with maintaining the great progress the club has made on the field in recent years.
“The success enjoyed by several players who have developed through the South West cricket pathway in recent years is a real inspiration to many young cricketers in the region.
“There is no finer example of this than Jack Leach and I am delighted we have been successful in securing his services for another four years.”
AS well as Leach, both Lewis Goldsworthy and Tom Lammonby have signed contract extensions up until the end of the 2023 season.
Both England under-19 stars broke through the Somerset first team last season in the Bob Willis Trophy.
Goldsworthy made 35 not out on debut from 24 balls, claiming 2-24, while Lammonby went on to score over 450 runs in the competition with three centuries.
Goldsworthy said: “I’m really excited to be a part of this squad for another few years.
“We’ve got a really exciting group here at the moment with a nice mix of youth players and quality experienced professionals, so hopefully we can build on last year and go one better in the Championship.”
Lammonby said: ““I’m honoured to have signed a contract extension with the club that I supported throughout my childhood and still support now.
“It’s great to have the opportunity to play for a club alongside people that I’ve looked up to for 20 years. I’m very excited to see what the next few years will hold.”
NEXT week, the focus returns to grassroots cricket following the release of this season’s fixtures.