Stevie Eskinazi commits long-term future to Middlesex with new deal

Stevie Eskinazi has committed his long-term future to Middlesex with a contract extension that will keep him at the club until at least the end of 2024.

Eskinazi, 27, joined Middlesex in 2013, and has gone on to make 136 appearances across formats, with 5,699 runs including seven first-class centuries, two List-A hundreds and one T20 century.

He signed a one-year extension earlier this summer, despite enduring a rocky period in the early part of the season, when his axing from Middlesex's under-performing Championship side led him to size up a loan deal

But, with Middlesex undergoing a coaching rejig, following the departure of Stuart Law and the appointment of Alan Coleman as head of men's performance, Eskinazi has been reassured that he is considered an integral part of the team's rebuild.

"I am incredibly proud to have played for this great club for even one season, so to be signing on for what will take me to my 12th season at Lord's is very surreal," Eskinazi said. "I never take for granted the opportunity that I have as a Middlesex player and have never been more positive about the club's future than I am now.

"I look forward to helping Middlesex achieve its goals on and off the field over the next few years and to being a leader in what is going to be a very exciting transition period. The club's values of hard work, determination and respect align closely with mine and I look forward to embodying them with a fantastic group of teammates and support staff."

Responding to the news, Coleman added: "I am absolutely delighted that Eski has committed his long-term future to the club. He is one of our most accomplished batsmen, works incredibly hard at his game, and for a number of seasons now has proven what an exceptionally talented player he is.

"In red-ball cricket he is capable of batting for long periods, occupying the crease and compiling big innings, whilst in white-ball cricket he has established himself as one of the leading domestic top-order batters in the game in recent years. He has the ability to work the ball around the ground to all parts and be explosive when the situation calls for it. He will be a key part of our team achieving success in the coming seasons.

"Eski is a hugely important part of the Middlesex dressing room, and I am really looking forward to continuing to work closely with him over the next few years."

Sussex's promising young fast bowler, Henry Crocombe, has also signed a deal that will keep him at Hove until the end of 2024.

Crocombe, 20, made his debut for the club in 2020, and claimed 20 wickets in nine matches in this summer's County Championship.

"Henry has already come on leaps and bounds over the last two seasons," Ian Salisbury, the head coach, said. "He showed great resilience last summer as our one bowler that was fit for every single game and his performance prompted nearly every opposition coach to comment that he had something special.

"We're looking forward to nurturing his talent in the years to come."