WILTSHIRE cricket ace James Vince has signed a three-year extension to his deal with Hampshire, which will keep him at The Ageas Bowl until the end of the 2016 season.
All-rounder Vince, who is from Steeple Ashton, was due to reach the end of his current deal at the end of the summer but has committed his future to the county where he came through the junior ranks.
The former Warminster School pupil, who also played youth cricket for Chippenham,said; "I am delighted to have signed a new contract here at Hampshire and am looking forward to contributing to some successful years to come with the club.
"I have really enjoyed my time at Hampshire and we have enjoyed some successful seasons. I hope it continues in that fashion and I can play a part in it. We have a fantastic ground, fantastic facilities and great squad of players and coaching staff here.”
Vince played his first matches for Hampshire’s first team in 2009 but only became a regular in 2010, making his highest first-class score of 180 against Yorkshire at Scarborough.
He is Hampshire’s second-highest run scorer in this year’s Championship so far with 568 runs at an average of 43.69 and has also excelled with the ball, taking a five-wicket haul against Loughborough MCCU.
Vince was a key part of the Royals’ Friends Provident T20-winning team in 2010, Friends Life t20-winning team in 2012 and Clydesdale Bank 40-winning team in 2012.
He also went past 1000 career runs for the county while still a teenager, played for England U19s in 2009-2010 and was selected for the England Performance Programme and Lions squads in the winters of 2011 and 2012.
Hampshire manager Giles White said: “It’s great that James has committed to the club for the next few years.
"He has moved forward this season with the bat and has also shown good potential with the ball.
"He is maturing into an influential player in all forms of the game and, if he continues to develop, the next phase of his career should be an exciting one.”
MORE ON THIS STORY IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES
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