Mark Wood signs new three-year deal with Durham

Durham County Cricket Club has today announced England fast bowler Mark Wood has signed a new three-year contract.

The news will come as reassuring news for Durham fans after losing Paul Coughlin, Graham Onions and Keaton Jennings at the end of the 2017 season. It comes in the aftermath of their financial issues which controversially led to the county being demoted to Division Two.

It remains to be seen exactly how much of Mark Wood the county will see. The 29-year-old has only featured twice for the county so far this season. Both of those matches, against Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire in the One-Day Cup, were no results.

Wood, born in Ashington, about 30 miles away from Durham’s county ground, is currently playing in the World Cup with England. He has taken 16 wickets in his eight matches so far. Only Jofra Archer with 17 wickets from nine group games has taken more wickets for England.

After signing his new contract Wood expressed his delight to be remaining at the Riverside. “I am buzzing to be committing another three years to Durham Cricket.

“It is an exciting time for Durham at the moment, with the change in coaches and the new identity, so to be able to bowl more overs and take wickets for this team is something I am excited to carry on doing.

“Whenever I step foot out onto the pitch at the Riverside, I just get a great feeling, it was extra special playing for England against New Zealand last week on home soil, so to know I have at least another three more years of playing here definitely makes me smile.”

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