Key Durham pair Mark Stoneman and Mark Wood have shown their commitment to the club and extended their Durham County Cricket Club contracts by signing extensions.
Stoneman has signed on for the 2014 and 2015 seasons whilst Wood has signed on for a further three years, until the end of the 2016 season.
25-year old Stoneman has blossomed at the club after making his debut as a 20-year old in 2007.
The left-hand batsman has played 101 games for Durham and has accumulated 4455 runs and this season has already registered some impressive performances with the bat particularly in the LVCC with a century against Yorkshire and crucial knocks of 77 and 67 in Durham’s win on the road against Surrey.
His leadership qualities are also highly regarded at the club, stepping into the One-Day Captaincy role recently due to Dale Benkenstein’s injury.
Stoneman said he was very pleased to have extended his contract until the end of 2014:
“I will be looking to continue my recent form scoring runs at the top of the order in all three formats and the added responsibility of captaining the Yorkshire Bank 40 side in the absence of Dale Benkenstein.
“Whilst it has been widely written that this is a transitional period for the club recent performances have shown strong prospects for the coming years and I am very much looking forward to being part of this.”
Durham have further shown their commitment to their pathways program with another Academy product Mark Wood signing on with the club for the next three years.
23-year old Wood has made quite an impression in his 18 matches for the club after making his debut in 2011.
The Northumberland born paceman has claimed 18 wickets and has shown his potential this season after playing a crucial role in Durham’s LVCC win against Nottinghamshire taking 2-58 & 3-57 and making 58 not out with the bat.
Wood said he was delighted to have signed on with the club and is looking forward to the opportunities the next three years will bring.
“We have a fantastic squad and it is great to be part of that. I am really looking forward to helping Durham challenge for some silverware over the next few years.”