Keeper-batsman Ben Cox has handed Worcestershire a massive boost by signing a new four year contract.
Academy product Cox, who is in the final year of his current contract, has put pen to paper on a new deal until the end of the 2020 campaign.
Twenty-four-year-old Cox's long term commitment follows on from nine other first team squad players signing similar contracts since the tail-end of last season.
Cox, who made his first team debut seven years ago while still at school, has been in outstanding form during the past couple of seasons.
He was the County's second highest scorer in Division One of the County Championship last season and had an 88% success rate in terms of catches taken behind the stumps.
Cox has continued in the same vein this summer and Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes believes he is capable of pushing for international honours.
Former England keeper Rhodes said: "We are delighted Ben has signed the new contract. What is really pleasing about Ben Cox as a person and as a cricketer is he is such a club man and team man.
"He is very proud to wear the Three Pears (Worcestershire) badge. He is a Worcestershire man through and through.
"To have somebody of his loyalty towards the club, and passion for the club, to reward him with a long contract is exactly what we are all about.
"He is a terrific cricketer now, as consistent a wicket-keeper in county cricket that I have seen and to do that at a young age is incredibly good.
"But also his match-winning experience and ability with the bat in the different formats has been excellent.
"It is very tricky going into bat towards the end of an innings in one-day cricket and he does it superbly and often is there at the finish and winning games of cricket.
"His batting in the middle order this year (in Championship cricket) has been a stumbling block for opposing teams and he has dug us out of tricky situations."
Cox is happy to have secured his long term future with the County and is predicting a bright future with the current squad.
He said: "I'm just delighted to sign the length of contract I have at Worcestershire. I want to play my cricket here and for the club to back that up and show they have faith in me for the next four years is tremendous.
I'm a Worcester boy through and through . I've been here since I was nine years old and never thought of leaving! To sign for another four years is brilliant.
"I see this squad of players winning silverware at some point whether it be this year, the next couple of years or three or four years down the line. We've got the players to win trophies."
