Somerset head coach Jason Kerr signs new deal

The two-year contract extension will see him stay in Taunton until at least the end of the 2022 season after guiding the club to a first major trophy for 14 years

Somerset head coach Jason Kerr has signed a two-year contract extension at Taunton until the end of the 2022 season.

Kerr, 45, took the post before the 2018 campaign and has led the club to consecutive second-place finishes in the County Championship, as well as the Royal London One-Day Cup in 2019 - their first major success for 14 years.

He said: “I’m incredibly excited with where we are as a club, we’ve laid some really strong foundations and to be able to take it forward over the next few years means the world to me.

“I have absolute belief in the squad and the support staff and having the wholehearted backing of [director of cricket] Andy Hurry and the committee makes me believe that we can achieve anything.”

The south-western county has never won the Championship but came agonisingly close to a maiden title this season before being edged out heartbreakingly by Essex.

Former allrounder Kerr – who played for Somerset between 1993 and 2001 – saw his side need to take 20 wickets to beat Essex and capture the title before they fell short.

“On the last day their absolute commitment to what we were trying to achieve was faultless," he added. "It was almost mission impossible, but no one gave up. They gave everything to achieve that ultimate goal.

“The commitment of everyone in the dressing room is unrivalled. That is a huge strength of ours and if we keep improving the way that we have this year, I see no reason why we can’t go one better in the near future.”

Subscribe to The Cricketer for exclusive content every day: The inside track on England's Test tour with George Dobell in Pakistan, award-winning analysis, breaking news and interviews and the only place for in-depth county coverage all year round. Plus: An ad-free app experience at your fingertips. Subscribe to thecricketer.com today for just £1.