Josh Bohannon signs new two-year contract extension at Lancashire

The England hopeful scored 853 County Championship runs last season and will remain at Emirates Old Trafford until 2024

Lancashire have confirmed the extension of Josh Bohannon's contract.

The top-four regular was the Red Roses' highest run-scorer in the 2022 County Championship, hitting 853 runs in 14 innings, and he has been rewarded with a deal until 2024.

It was enough to force him into the England Lions squad that went to Australia.

And on what was a troubling winter for all batters, Bohannon hit 22 and 51 in Brisbane against an Australia A attack including Michael Neser and Scott Boland.

That performance meant he was under consideration for a maiden international call-up for the West Indies Test series.

^{Bohannon made an impression on his Championship debut against Surrey (Jan Kruger/Getty Images)}

Though eventually overlooked, next season gives Bohannon another opportunity to push on and ensure he is a part of a new era for English Test cricket.

Last term was by far Bohannon's most fruitful in first-class cricket, with five fifties and two centuries - against Yorkshire and eventual champions Warwickshire - punctuating a fine campaign that saw him average 53.31.

Lancs came up short in pursuit of silverware - they were runners-up in the Championship and lost the Bob Willis Trophy final - but it was altogether an encouraging season.

A product of the Bolton League where he represented Farnworth Social Circle before turning out for the likes of Ormskirk and Southport and Birkdale in the Liverpool Premier League, Bohannon marked his Championship debut in 2018 against Surrey with a maiden half-century and has never looked back.

The 24-year-old has now taken his average to just short of 44 to thrust himself firmly on England's radar.

Bohannon backed up his domestic form with a fifty for England Lions in Australia (Peter Willis/Getty Images)

"It is a great honour to sign this contract to represent the Red Rose for another three seasons," he said.

"Since first pulling on a Lancashire shirt in the age-group system in 2010 it has been a dream come true and to be able to do it alongside so many friends in the same dressing room is brilliant.

"Last summer was my most productive season with the bat and it was great to travel Down Under with the Lions. All eyes are now on the new season and working towards a successful one for Lancashire."

Head coach Glen Chapple added: "Josh enjoyed a superb summer with the bat in first-class cricket last year and had it not been for a number of rain affected games – meaning that he only got to bat 14 times - he would have comfortably passed the 1,000 runs mark.

"He was rightfully rewarded with an England Lions call-up at the end of the season, and I have no doubt that further recognition will come his way if he continues to perform with the consistency shown throughout last season."