Simpson eyeing England call after new Middlesex deal

Wicket-keeper John Simpson is targeting an England call-up after signing a new deal with county champions Middlesex.

The 28-year-old, described by Middlesex’s managing director Angus Fraser as “one of the finest cricketers in the country”, will now be at Lord’s until the end of the 2019 season.

Simpson was the only Middlesex player to feature in every match across all three formats in 2016, playing an important role in both the club’s County Championship title win and their progress made in white-ball cricket.

Since making his debut for Middlesex in June 2009, he has hit 6,687 runs in almost 250 appearances, and has 472 victims to his name.

Simpson said: “Lifting the County Championship trophy last year was the highlight of my career to date and its given all of us in the Middlesex side a real appetite for more success.

“I’m really excited to be part of what promises to be an exciting chapter for the club moving forward.

“I still have a very strong desire to represent England on the international stage and am hopeful that if I can continue to perform to the level that I have done in all formats in recent seasons that this ambition can become a reality.”

Fraser added: “He is one of the finest cricketers in the country.

“As a gloveman there are few, if any, better than him and he is capable of producing match-changing and match-winning innings with the bat.

“There are only seven Middlesex wicket-keepers who have claimed more victims than him and by this time next year he will probably be in the top six, which is quite an effort.

“He remains ambitious and focused and continues to grow as a person and a cricketer, which is great for us as a club.”