LEFT-ARM opening bowler David Payne has followed Gareth Roderick in signing a contract extension with the club through until 2021.

Payne's Gloucestershire career, in terms of first team cricket, stretches back longer than any of the current squad. The first of more than 200 matches came back in 2009 in a List A game against Hampshire at Southampton, before making his T20 debut the following year and his first-class debut, aged 20, in 2011 - when he also took a career best 6-26 against Leicestershire.

His contribution with the ball has come across all formats, with the dismissal of Michael Hogan in last week's Championship win over Glamorgan taking him to exactly 400 wickets for the club, more than half of them in first class cricket.

His most consistent season, 2016, saw him take 43 Championship wickets and trigger his previous contract renewal, bolstered by some useful late season runs with the bat including half centuries in three consecutive matches.

As a teenager, he took four wickets in the final over of a match at Chelmsford against Essex to finish with 7-29, and of course in 2015 it was his two wickets that sealed the Royal London Cup success over Surrey at Lord's.

More recently, he was Gloucestershire's highest wicket taker in this season's Vitality T20 Blast, his performance against beaten finalists Sussex at Hove during the group stages earned him the Man on the Match Award.

Payne said “I am delighted to commit the next years of my career to Gloucestershire. I have huge ambitions to win trophies for this club, and to play for my country. And despite recent trends, I believe that I can achieve my goals in the game as a player here at Nevil Road.

We have an exciting blend of youth and experience within the squad now and I feel that we can not only compete for trophies in white ball cricket, but fight for promotion in the championship. I am comfortable in my role as a senior bowler at the club and relish the opportunity to both push my own game forward and to help in the nurturing of a young bowling group.

I thank the members for their continued support and the players and coaches for the backing they give.”

Head Coach Richard Dawson added “It’s great for the Club that David has extended his contract. He has developed into a quality bowler in all formats and is still improving.”