JAMES Fuller said he feels "very privileged" to have signed a contract extension with Hampshire.

The all-rounder has put pen-to-paper on a new deal, committing his future to the club until at least the end of 2021.

Fuller, who first arrived at Hampshire from Middlesex in 2018, has featured prominently with both bat and ball throughout his first two seasons at the Ageas Bowl.

The right-hander made contributions in all three formats in his debut campaign, totalling close to 400 runs and claiming 16 wickets, whilst helping Hampshire reach a second successive List A final in 2019, including striking his first Hampshire half-century in the competition’s Lord’s finale.

Fuller also enjoyed success in a truncated 2020 season as he topped the list of Hampshire run-getters in this summer’s Vitality Blast. That followed hot-on-the-heels of a Bob Willis Trophy campaign which saw him become the 15th player to record a hat-trick for the club with an incredible spell against Surrey in August.

“I’m really pleased and grateful to be signing on for another year at Hampshire," said Fuller.

"Particularly given the events of this year, I feel very privileged, as do my team-mates, to continue to live our dreams as professional cricketers.

"The group of players we have here right now are really exciting and I feel we are coming to that great period in a club where there is a real blend of high-quality players.

"We’ve got talented youths coming through who can play without fear, a good core group of guys who have played half a dozen years together and then the more experienced players with a decade or more to their names.

"It’s a great platform, but if we want to capitalise on this make up and win trophies we will need to work as hard as we have ever worked in this off season and I’m excited because I know this group of players will do that.”

Giles White, Hampshire director of cricket, added: “James is a versatile cricketer who is a game-changer with both bat and ball and we’re pleased he’s signed an extension with us.

"He contributes in all areas and has been great around the club and in the dressing room since joining us in 2018, giving his all off the field as well as on it.”