Northamptonshire captain Alex Wakely has signed a new contract to keep him at Wantage Road until 2016.
Despite missing all of the summer after suffering an Achilles injury in pre-season, Wakely was in September named to succeed Stephen Peters as the club’s captain in all formats from next season.
He will do so with the confidence of a fresh deal under his belt.
“I am very happy to be extending my contract with Northants,” Wakely said.
“I really like this club and have been here all my career, so I am Northants cricket through and through. Personally, it’s a fresh start for me and a second chance really, after coming back from injury.
“Looking ahead, I can see no reason why the team cannot push for further honours and start to win trophies again.”
Wakely led Northants to the 2013 Twenty20 title – their first trophy in 21 years– as the club also enjoyed promotion to the LV= County Championship first division.
The 26-year-old ruptured an Achilles on a tour of the Caribbean in March, however, and missed the summer as Northamptonshire were relegated at the first time of asking.
The club has made sweeping changes already in the off-season with Wakely, a former England Under-19s skipper, to play a central role as head coach David Ripley aims to immediately bounce back.
“I see exciting times ahead for Alex. He has shown his tactical awareness and leadership skills in our 2013 T20 win and now has the chance to manage and lead the dressing room on a daily basis,” Ripley said.
“I look forward to supporting him with that and helping him back to being a heavy run-scorer for us, in all formats, after his injury.”