Shropshire cricketer Jack Shantry has earned a new contract with Worcestershire.

The 22-year-old left-arm seamer has signed a deal which will keep him at New Road until 2013.

Shantry is Worcestershire’s third highest wicket taker in what has been his first full summer in First Class cricket, claiming 25 scalps.

And he has performed admirably in one-day cricket, having taken 18 wickets at an average of 19.16 and with an economy rate of 7.04 in the Friends Provident Twenty20.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Shantry, who has made occasional Birmingham League premier division appearances for Shrewsbury this season and was a former regular in the Shropshire Minor Counties line-up. “It’s a great way to end my first full season at Worcestershire and it’s nice to get a reward for all the hard work I’ve put in.

“A career in professional sport is very short and it’s very rare to get a three-year contract.

“I’m grateful to Worcestershire for that and now it’s up to me to pay them back.”

Shantry revealed he was pleased with the way with his debut season in the First Class game had progressed.

“I set myself a number of goals at the start of the season — including breaking into the first team and playing all forms of the game — and I’ve pretty much achieved all those,” he added.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: “Jack has made real progress this year in all formats of the game and has more than earned a new contract with us.”

By James Garrison