Nottinghamshire wicketkeeper Chris Read signs new one-year contract

Nottinghamshire skipper Chris Read has agreed a one-year contract extension and will be staying with the county until at least the end of the 2017 season.

The former England international remains a top performer at the age of 37 and averages over 50 in the County Championship this year, having scored two fifties and a fine hundred against Yorkshire.

Read made his debut for Nottinghamshire in 1998 and has 658 appearances for the county in all competitions under his belt, with 980 first class catches to his name.

"For me, these decisions about contracts are all about how I'm feeling fitness-wise and whether I'm performing at a high level," said Read.

"I still love the game, I love playing for Nottinghamshire, and I'm not thinking about retirement.

"I'm happy with where my game is, I'm focused on us having a successful season, and I'm looking forward to finishing my career here at Notts."

Director of cricket Mick Newell thinks there could yet be more contract extensions to come for Read, who led Nottinghamshire to County Championship glory in 2010.

"Chris is a very, very important player for us," said Newell. "Not least because his wicket-keeping is of the highest quality and he continually gets us out of trouble with the bat.

"He is also our leader, he is an inspiration to the team, and I hope he continues to play for a few more years.

"You only have to look at the way our form improved after we welcomed him back from injury last season to know what an important player he is for us, across all formats of the game."