worcestershire ccc wicket-keeper batsman alex milton is determined to repay the county for the faith shown in him after signing a new three year contract.
the former malvern college pupil, who had one year remaining of his current deal, has put pen to paper at New Road until the end of the 2021 campaign.
the 22-year-old was a regular member of worcestershire’s side in the specsavers county championship for the second half of the season.
he scored his maiden first class century on his championship debut against somerset at New Road in late july and then remained in the red ball team for the final six matches of the campaign.
milton kept wicket in two of those matches against somerset – when ben cox was injured – and also versus surrey.
he is a product of the worcestershire academy and then had a spell playing for mcc young cricketers and also glamorgan seconds before returning to New Road.
milton is now available on a full-time basis after completing his degree at cardiff mccu whom he also skippered this summer.
he said: “it’s a great feeling knowing that i’m going to be at worcestershire for the next three years.
“now they’ve given me that opportunity, i’m going to do everything i can to succeed for worcestershire, to really repay them for this opportunity they have given me.
“did the contract come as a surprise? i knew i had one year left and was really focusing on doing whatever i could next year to hopefully get another contract.
“when this came about, i was a little surprised but also very thankful for it.
“it just gives me that little bit more security but also hopefully gives me the chance to perform better for worcestershire which i feel i will do with that security.
“it’s just been a really good period basically, making my way into the first team for the last half of the season and being part of the squad in the t20 (vitality blast) stuff as well.”
when scoring his century against somerset, milton and steve magoffin rewrote the record books with the highest last wicket stand for worcestershire of 136.
milton became only the second englishman to score a ton on his championship debut for the county after george fiddian-green against essex at new road in 1931.