Somerset leg-spinner Max Waller signs new two-year T20 deal

Waller, the highest wicket-taking leg-spinner in T20 Blast history and the sixth-most successful spinner of any kind, made his debut for the club in 2009

Somerset leg-spinner Max Waller has signed a new two-year T20 contract with the county that will see him remain at Taunton until at least the end of the 2022 season.

Waller, the highest wicket-taking leg-spinner in T20 Blast history and the sixth-most successful spinner of any kind, made his debut for the club in 2009 and has since forged a career as a white-ball specialist – he has only played nine first-class games in 11 years, with his most recent red-ball appearance coming in 2018.

In T20 cricket, however, he has taken 132 wickets in 133 matches at an average of 23.80 and an impressive economy rate of 7.28. Also a gun fielder, he is just six wickets behind Alfonso Thomas, Somerset’s leading T20 wicket-taker.

Waller said: “I’m delighted to have extended my contract at Somerset for another two years. Having represented the club since I was 10 years old, the county obviously has a very special place in my heart.

“I look forward to helping the team win silverware in T20 cricket over the next few years as we look to keep improving in the shortest format of the game.”

Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry added: “It’s fantastic news that we have extended one of the shortest format’s leading domestic players for the next two seasons. This extension creates a great opportunity for us to continue to work with Max and grow his contributions to the T20 side.

“He has been such a valuable member of our Vitality Blast team over the years and we certainly all know what he brings to the team on the field. He is not only capable of squeezing opposition batsman through pressure created with the ball, dynamic fielding and competitive drive, but also his significant contributions off the field reflecting the club values add so much additional benefit.”