Essex tie Jamie Porter and Aaron Beard down to new contracts

Both players pen fresh terms with the Chelmsford county until the end of the 2021 season

Essex have confirmed that seamer Jamie Porter and youngster Aaron Beard have signed new deals with the club until at least the end of the 2021 season.

Twenty-six-year-old Porter has been instrumental for the county since his debut in 2014, taking 277 first-class wickets including 75 as they won the title in 2017.

He went past fifty in 2018 for the fourth campaign in a row and remains a key figure in all formats.

"I’m really excited to extend my contract and commit my future to this great club," said the England hopeful.

"As a team, we’ve gone from strength-to-strength over the last four or five years. We’ve tasted success and everyone in the dressing room believes further titles and honours are not far away.

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"As a player, all you want to do is win, and the fact I believe this team will be consistently winning and competing for trophies made the decision to sign an extension much easier."

Beard, 21, has only made 13 outings in all formats since making his first-class debut against Sri Lanka in 2016 but has been rewarded for his steady rise into the first team.

Either side of spells in the second XI he made two outings in the One-Day Cup, finishing with 3-51 and 22 not out against Gloucestershire.

“I’m really thrilled to extend my contract and commit my future to this terrific club," the highly thought-of youngster admitted.

“I’m a local lad so playing for Essex really means a lot me. I’ve been in and around the First Team over the last couple of years and the aim is to develop my skills, get into the side and lock down my position in the First Team."

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