Westley extends Essex contract until 2027

Essex captain Tom Westley has signed a two-year contract extension to keep him with the club until the end of the 2027 season.

The 36-year-old has scored more than 21,000 runs in over 500 appearances in all formats of the game since his debut in 2006.

But Essex have struggled this season, winning only two of their 13 County Championship games and failing to reach the knockout stages of the T20 Blast and One-Day Cup.

"I have been at Essex for over two decades and have experienced the highs and the lows. It is a place that has given me so much and allowed me to live my dream," Westley told the club website, external.

"It hurts me to see the position we are currently in, fighting to stay in Division One and not winning trophies.

"All I have ever wanted was to win games for Essex and contribute to silverware. I hope that over the course of these next years I can be integral in doing that once more."

Westley - who has been club captain since 2020 - has hit 41 centuries, 32 of them in first-class cricket - including three in this season's Championship, in which he averages 43.21.

"It's great to have Tom committing to another two years with Essex," director of cricket Chris Silverwood said.

"Tom has been an integral member of the squad for many years, bringing a wealth of experience and a strong desire to help the club continue moving forward and achieving success."