CHRIS Wood has extended his contract by one year, until the end of the 2016 season.

Wood’s contract was due to expire at the end of next season, but he has followed the likes of Michael Carberry, Adam Wheater and Liam Dawson in extending his current deal this year.

The 24 year-old, who is playing his first LV County Championship match of the season against Kent at Canterbury, said: “I love playing my cricket here and I’ve really enjoyed all the success we’ve had so I was delighted to be offered a new contract and it didn’t take me long to sign!

Hampshire academy graduate Wood, a left-arm seamer from Basingstoke, made his debut in April 2009.

He is playing his 29th Championship match in five seasons this week, having taken 64 wickets (at 33.89) and scored 901 runs (at 23.71) in the longer format.

But it is in the limited-overs formats that he has been most successful (79 one-day wickets at 25.10 and 70 T20 wickets at 27.84).

He added: “My one-day cricket for Hampshire has been good and I need to continue that, but to improve in four-day cricket is a big aim for me.

"Every county player wants to be playing Division One County Championship cricket so hopefully I can play a part in getting us there for next season.”

Director of Cricket, Giles White said: “Chris has been limited to one-day cricket so far this season but still remains an integral part of our plans across all formats.

"He’s an all-rounder with plenty of potential and we look forward to him playing his part over the next couple of years."