Gloucestershire opener Miles Hammond signs contract extension

Having initially come onto the scene as an off-spinner, Hammond’s shift to the top of the order has been at the heart of his success

Gloucestershire opening batsman Miles Hammond has signed a new deal with the club, keeping him at the county until the end of the 2022 season.

The 24-year-old played a prominent role for the club in all three formats; his 322 runs in the T20 Blast were bettered only by Michael Klinger, who captained the side.

Despite struggling for regular red-ball runs – he averaged just 19 in the County Championship, he was an ever-present member of the team that secured promotion back to the top tier, scoring 418 runs in the process.

“It’s a club I’ve been at since I was 14 and, being from Cheltenham, I always wanted to play here,” he said of his new deal.

“I’m thankful for the belief the club have shown me and I can’t wait to get back out on the field with an exciting bunch of lads once this uncertainty is over. We know we are capable of achieving big things and hopefully we get the chance to do that.”

Underrated but undeterred: The all-round talents of Ryan Higgins, Gloucestershire's kingpin

Having initially come onto the scene as an off-spinner, Hammond’s shift to the top of the order has been at the heart of his success.

Head coach Richard Dawson added: “He is a young lad who is eager to learn and has developed his game each year at the club. We look forward to working with him more and seeing how he matures as a cricketer.

“Hopefully, with the club’s backing he can continue to show Gloucestershire supporters his ever-growing talent with the bat and his terrific character.”