Coad signs two-year contract extension with Yorkshire

The Harrogate-born bowler followed his fifty Championship wickets in 2017, with 48 scalps at 16.33 in nine matches this summer

Yorkshire have announced that 24-year-old seamer Ben Coad has put pen to paper on a new deal which will see him stay with the club until 2021.

The Harrogate-born bowler followed his fifty Championship wickets in 2017, with 48 scalps at 16.33 in nine matches this summer.

Speaking to Yorkshireccc.com Coad said: "I’ve always wanted to play at Yorkshire."

“It has been something I’ve wanted from a very young age. It’s not only the biggest club in England, but probably the world. It’s a massive privilege to play here and a massive honour to sign an extension.”

“I don’t want to get big-headed or anything like that. It’s about keeping doing what I’m doing. I’ve always thought I could perform at this level but a few years ago it was very hard to get in the team. I just got that break with a couple of injuries. I got a chance and I took it.

“It is the biggest county, the biggest club in the world and I’ve always dreamt about playing for Yorkshire. I don’t ever want to leave here.

^{Coad took 48 wickets at 16.33 in Division One this summer}

“As long as we stick together as a group and get a couple of years under our belts, more experience in Division One, then there will be exciting times coming. I know the quality of the lads coming through and what we can go on and achieve could be quite frightening.”

The seamer - who has 103 wickets in just 24 first-class matches - took home Yorkshire's 2018 Players’ Player of the Year award for the second year running, and director of cricket Martyn Moxon says he is "the first name on the team-sheet".

“He has obviously had two outstanding seasons, particularly in County Championship cricket. Simply put, he has been a top performer for us and we’re delighted to have him on board until the end of 2021," said Moxon.

“He got his initial opportunity through injuries to others a couple of years ago and has never looked back. He worked hard at his cricket, being a little more aggressive with a wicket-taking mindset

“The challenge now is to keep him fit for a little bit longer. These niggling injuries have been his only setbacks, but that will get less and less as his body matures and he grows into bowling day-in, day-out in first-team cricket. When he’s fit, he’s the first name on the team-sheet, especially when it comes to Championship cricket.

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