Opening batsman Miles Hammond, who made such an impression after breaking into the Gloucestershire side in the second half of the season just finished, has extended his contract at the club until 2020.

A product of St Edward’s School in Oxford – Hammond, 22, hadn’t played in the first team since 2015 when he signed a 12-month deal last winter.

This was partly because he was working towards an Architecture degree, but having put that on hold to concentrate on his cricket, Hammond not only forced his way into the county championship side but also proved a success in T20 cricket.

Used as an opening batsman in both formats, Hammond marked his first appearance in four-day cricket for nearly three years by making a maiden century against Sussex at the Cheltenham Cricket Festival, and added another in more defensive circumstances to foil Middlesex in the drawn game at the Brightside Ground in September.

He finished the season with just shy of 500 runs in the championship, he also added an innings of 39 helping to secure victory at Derby on the final day of the season.

The left-handed Hammond – who had broken into the Gloucestershire team as a young off-spinner in 2013 – was also an ever present in the Vitality T20 Blast, striking the ball cleanly to score an important half century in the win over Kent at Canterbury and making three other scores over 30 in the group stages.

In the quarter-final at Worcester his dismissal, having made 45, checked a rapid Gloucestershire start and eventually saw the home side seal a place at finals day by five wickets. Only wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick took more than his nine catches in the tournament.

Hammond said: “I’m really excited to have signed for two more years with Gloucestershire and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in next season and enjoying some more winning moments next year with a really exciting squad.”

Head coach Richard Dawson added: “It is great news that Miles has extended his contract at the club.

“It was a breakthrough year for Miles, making instant impact in the T20 competition and also scoring two centuries in four-day cricket. We look forward to working with Miles and continuing his development over the next couple of years.”