Delighted to have signed a new three-year contract with Hampshire, says Kyle Abbott

After retiring from international cricket in January 2017, Abbott took up a four-year Kolpak deal with Hampshire, where he had featured as an overseas player in the 2014 season. In three years, he has become a crucial part of the side’s setup, picking up 293 wickets at an average of just 21.43 across all formats for the club. 183 of those wickets have come at the first-class level at 18.78, with more than 50 wickets in every County Championship campaigns in the last three years.

"I'm delighted to have signed a new three-year contract with Hampshire. We have a great bunch of players and coaching staff all striving to achieve success for the club and I look forward to contributing to winning trophies in the coming years,” Abbott told the club website, reported Cricbuzz.

"I'd like to thank Rod and Giles for giving me the opportunity to sign a new contract and all the supporters at the Ageas Bowl who have made me feel so welcome over the last three years."

With the UK set to leave the European Union soon, where Abbott’s new deal will stand is yet to be known. From what is known, if Brexit occurs before the end of 2019, existing contracts would be permitted to continue under the existing terms until the end of the 2020 season. But Giles White, the Director of Cricket for Hampshire, is only focused on having his side’s highest wicket-taker in this season’s T20 blast - 20 scalps at 17.80 - continue at the club. 

"I can't speak highly enough of Kyle. He has once again shown what a valuable asset he is to the team. He continually puts in match-winning contributions; he is a great role model for the younger players and he shows a great passion for playing for the club. For all these reasons we are delighted he will be with us for the long-term," Giles said.