COLCHESTER'S Ben Allison has signed a contract extension that will keep him at Essex until at least the end of the 2024 season.

The 23-year-old seamer has just enjoyed his best year in an Essex shirt, recovering from a side strain to take a maiden professional five-wicket haul against Northamptonshire during the final LV= Insurance County Championship game of the season.

Allison progressed through the youth ranks at Colchester and East Essex Cricket Club before joining the Essex Academy, in 2017.

Allison said: “It was a great way for me personally to end the season, so to be offered a contract extension is very satisfying.

“It’s a tough bowling attack to break into, but I learn so much from them that I know when I get my chance I’ll be ready and we saw that, particularly at the end of last season.

“The side strain limited my chances in the One Day side last year, but I’m looking forward to hopefully playing in all three formats in 2023.”

Despite stiff competition from a strong pace attack, Allison broke into the red-ball starting XI in the latter half of the season and showed he was worth his place by taking 12 wickets at just 13.41 a-piece.

Earlier in the year, he earned a regular spot in the Vitality Blast outfit, featuring in all but two matches and taking 11 wickets.

Essex head coach Anthony McGrath said: “The way Ben came back from injury last season was brilliant and he offers us another really useful seam bowling option.

“With his height he offers another angle of attack for us and compliments the rest of the attack nicely.

“Those performances with ball and bat in the final three games of last season was just reward for a lot of hard work and I’m looking forward to seeing how he continues to progress next season.”