Durham CCC are thrilled to announce England fast bowler Mark Wood has committed to a new three-year contract at Emirates Riverside.
The 26-year-old will ply his trade, at county cricket level, in the North East until at least the end of the 2019 season.
A series of explosive bowling performances fired Durham to the NatWest T20 Blast final this year, one of many times he has set the county scene alight since making his debut in 2011.
Wood also earned a Test central contract with England but is currently sidelined after a recent operation to his left ankle.
Speaking after signing his new deal, Wood was delighted to have secured another deal with his home county.
“I’m delighted to be honest; throughout the year, I was desperate to stay,” he said.
“Three years was one of my main drivers, I wanted to not just stay for one or two, I wanted to make sure I was here to make a difference for a long period of time.
“The recent setback we have had gives us a chance to make a big impact and hopefully along with my England duties, I can push the club forward in a good light.
“I’m a North East lad from the region, I want to make a difference for this club and I’ve been here since I was 16/17 years old so I’m delighted I can stay on longer and continue my Durham journey.”
Chief executive David Harker said: “We’re very pleased to have Mark’s services once again and a three-year deal shows commitment from both parties.
“There was a great willingness from both parties to get a new deal sorted and we are delighted to have got this over the line.
“His potential is vast and we’re glad to be supporting him throughout a time when he will be reaching the prime stages of his career.”
Wood’s career has been on an upward trajectory since making his Durham debut in the pre-season friendly against Durham MCCU in 2011.
He burst onto the scene with 19 wickets in his first five red ball fixtures, including a match-winning 5/78 against Nottinghamshire, before breaking through with 27 wickets in the Championship-winning side of 2013.
That earned recognition with the national side’s second string, touring with the Lions to Sri Lanka during the winter.
A first call-up to the senior side came in a memorable summer of 2015, making his Test debut against New Zealand at Lord’s before he took the Ashes-clinching wicket in the subsequent series later the same summer.
Two ankle injuries hampered his 2016 but Wood still made telling contributions, bowling one of the club’s most memorable spells in the NatWest T20 Blast semi-final win over the Yorkshire Vikings at Edgbaston.
An interview with Wood about returning to full fitness, how familiar faces are helping his recovery and why it is important to be a match winner for Durham will be online tomorrow