Young batsman Zak Crawley has signed a new improved two-year contract with Kent Cricket.

The Kent Academy graduate was an ever-present in the Specsavers County Championship campaign this season and finished with 755 runs at an average of 31.46 and was Kent’s third-highest run-scorer in the four-day game.

The 20-year-old also scored his maiden first-class century, 168, against Glamorgan at the Spitfire Ground, St. Lawrence in in September after making a successful transition from a middle-order to an opening batsman.

Speaking about his new deal, Crawley, who made his first-class debut against the touring West Indies in 2017, said: “I’m still learning the game and there’s no other place I would rather play my cricket than in Kent, my home county – I am delighted to have signed a new contract.

“Now I just need to keep working hard and taking every opportunity that I can as I’m ambitious and want to take my game across all three formats.

“I just need to keep working hard and take every opportunity that I can.”

Paul Downton, Director of Cricket at Kent said: “Zak’s game is going from strength to strength, so obviously we’re very pleased that he has signed a new deal with us.

“He is a tremendously talented player and we look forward to him continuing his development with us.”