Glamorgan tie up long-term Allenby deal

Glamorgan will be relieved after tying allrounder Jim Allenby to a long-term deal. He was considering his future having been out of contract at the end of the season but will now stay in Cardiff until 2017.

Allenby, 30 from Western Australia, is Glamorgan's leading runscorer this season in the County Championship and Friends Life t20. Glamorgan were very keen to keep him but Allenby was weighing up his options with several counties interested.

He was disappointed to have been stripped of the one-day captaincy in favour of fellow Australian Marcus North but if anything, it has galvanised Allenby's batting. He led Glamorgan's good run in the Flt20 with 355 runs at 50.71.

Allenby has also helped his county avoid total disaster in the Championship. He has defied their lowly position of eighth in Division Two with 941 runs at 67.21. Alan Hamer, Glamorgan's chief executive, emphasised the point: "We are delighted to have retained Jim's services for the next four years. He is a key member of our playing squad.

"Today's announcement re-affirms the club's determination to become a successful first-class county. We remain committed to retaining our best players and to challenge strongly in all forms of the game."

Allenby added: "I am extremely happy to commit the next four years of my playing career to Glamorgan and look forward to working with the playing squad and coaching staff to bring success back to this club."

Another player Glamorgan would like to retain for next season is veteran batsman Murray Goodwin, who has also propped up his county with 846 first-class runs at 56.40. His performances triggered a one-year extension to his contract for next season but Goodwin, 40, is keen to secure a two-year deal.