England opener Zak Crawley has extended his Kent deal.
Crawley’s extension will mirror his one-year England Central Contract, with the 28-year-old available to Kent head coach Adam Hollioake at the start of their Rothesay County Championship Division 2 campaign.
The Academy product has signed up for his 10th season as a first-team player with the county, having made 156 all-format appearances, in which he has scored 6,514 runs and managed 10 centuries.
“I feel very proud to be heading into my 10th year at Kent,” said batsman Crawley.
“I’m excited to play for my home county when available this year.
“There’s a lot of talent coming through now and I hope to aid in their development as much as I can.”
Crawley, who made his England Test debut in November 2019, has 64 caps for his country.
In this winter’s Ashes series Down Under, which England lost 4-1, he offered 273 runs at an average of 27.30, including half-centuries during the first innings of the second and third Tests.
England now don’t return to Test action until a three-match home series against New Zealand in June.
Crawley is one of only seven Kent men’s batters to have scored 100 or more in each of England’s three domestic competitions for the club.
Director of cricket Simon Cook added: “Zak has developed all the way through our pathway and up to international level – his story is as much of a success for our Talent Pathway as his determination and hard work to keep improving as a player.
“He’s now in a position where his international experience will benefit us with top-order runs when he’s available for us but he’ll also be a great mentor and sounding board for our young top-order batters, too, to further help their development.”
It means the only senior Kent player whose contract hasn’t officially been extended yet for this summer is that of captain Daniel Bell-Drummond.
