Benny Howell extends contract with Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire have ensured that they do not lose one of their key players to big clubs by handing Benny Howell a new three-year contract extension on Wednesday (October 5), which will keep him at the Brightside Ground until the end of 2019.

The all-rounder took 24 wickets in the 2016 NatWest T20 Blast - two more than any other bowler and is one of the sought after commodities. Seeing his performances in the shortest form of the game, Khulna Titans signed him up for the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). He was one of the 31 foreign players to be signed before the draft.

"I am delighted to have signed a new contract here," Benny said. "I love playing with this group of players and I believe we can win more trophies together.

"I enjoy working with the coaches here, I love living in Bristol and it is exciting to see the way the club is going. Over the last few years the ground has been redeveloped, we've installed floodlights and hosted international cricket. It shows we are a club on the up and I want to be a part of that," he added.

The former Hampshire player is having a dream run of late. Apart from being the highest wicket-taker, he was the second Englishman (and fourth highest overall) in the Professional Cricketer's Association (PCA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) rankings.

Howell now has a chance to rub shoulders with some of the international stars in the BPL. "It is a massive opportunity for me. It is a league on the up and I hope the experience can help me push on to the next level and bring me closer to achieving my dream of playing for England.

"It is going to be very different to playing here but I am just going to try and enjoy it and try to learn as much as I can from playing with and against some of the best T20 players in the world," he added.

Richard Dawson, head coach of Gloucestershire, was delighted to extend Howell's stay at the club. He said, "It's great to have Benny Howell commit his future to the club. He has been a key performer in T20 and One-Day cricket and it was a great achievement to finish as the top wicket taker in this year's NatWest T20 Blast this summer. I hope he will continue to develop in red ball cricket as well."