Simpson commits to Middlesex

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Promising wicketkeeper-batsman John Simpson has committed his future to Middlesex by signing a two-year contract extension

Wicketkeeper-batsman John Simpson has signed a two-year contract extension at Middlesex.

The 23-year-old, who extended his deal by two years 12 months ago, was a key figure in Middlesex’s LV= County Championship promotion and will stay at Lord’s until the end of the 2015 campaign.

Simpson topped the wicketkeeping charts last season, claiming 65 first-class dismissals, and also starred with the bat, scoring 768 Division Two runs at an average of 42.66.

Middlesex managing director of cricket Angus Fraser said: “It is great for Middlesex CCC to have secured John’s services for at least the next four years.

“Like Toby Roland-Jones, he is an extremely talented and hard-working player, the sort of cricketer I want to build Middlesex County Cricket Club’s future around. Hopefully he will be Middlesex’s wicketkeeper for the next 10 years or more.

“John has developed enormously in the past two years as his figures in 2011 highlighted. He has learnt what it takes to play first-team cricket and has quickly become a serious cricketer.

“Similar performances to those John produced in 2011 would previously have won a player England Lions recognition and he is unlucky that in Craig Kieswetter, Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler England currently have several extremely talented wicketkeeper-batsmen.

“I believe John has the potential to put these cricketers under a lot of pressure over the coming months.”

Meanwhile, 20-year-old spinner Ravi Patel, who made his Middlesex debut last term, will be available for the entire 2012 season after deciding to take a break from his studies at Loughborough University.

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