Paul Collingwood pens new Durham CCC deal

As a result the 41-year-old all-rounder, who capped an incredible season by claiming Player of the Year, Players Player of the Year and Batsman of the year at last night's Durham’s 2017 Player of the Year Dinner, will play on into 23rd year at the Riverside.

Collingwood played an integral part in Durham's season in 2017, bagging the club’s first NatWest T20 Blast century against Worcestershire and added another three hundreds in the four-day format, including a career-high first-class score for Durham of 177 against Derbyshire.

He also passed 1,000 Championship runs for the season with a season-ending average of 49.40, as well as claiming 224 Royal London One-Day Cup runs and finished as the Jets’ top-scorer in the T20 Blast with 346 runs.

The Shotley Bridge former England man admits he is delighted to put pen to paper at his home county.

"I am so proud to still be playing for my home County who have given me the perfect environment to fulfil all of my cricketing dreams," he said.

"I’ve proven this season that I still have a lot to offer and I feel my role at Durham is still important in helping develop the next generation of Durham cricketers.

"I know that this club still has so much to offer English Cricket and despite a challenging season I still feel we can compete for promotion back to the first division in 2018.

"We will keep fighting, that’s the Durham spirit, we will keep giving opportunities to home grown players and offering chances for them to play first class cricket.

"We have to fight right from the top to the bottom of the club, Durham is a fantastic place to play and they have given me everything over the years.

"I will try and help them right until I have zero energy left, at the minute I still have plenty."

Ian Botham, Durham's club chairman, believes Collingwood epitomises the values of Durham CCC, and is also over the moon he's agreed to play on.

"To keep a player of Paul’s experience and ability at the club is a massive bonus as we continue to strive for promotion back to the top division," he said.

"Paul epitomise the values of Durham CCC, both on and off the field, as well as still being a fine player who leads from the front in the role of club captain.

"We are delighted to have his services in 2018."