SOMERSET County Cricket Club talent George Bartlett has signed a contract extension, which will see him remain with the county until at least the end of the 2021 season.

The 20-year-old batsman, who has played his club cricket with Bridgwater for the past couple of years, graduated from the Somerset Academy in 2016 and signed a professional contract before the 2017 season.

He made his Somerset debut in the County Championship match at Warwickshire in 2017, going on to play in 10 First Class matches, scoring more than 400 runs.

The highlight of his Somerset career to date came last season, when he made his maiden century for the county against Lancashire, scoring 110 at Old Trafford.

Bartlett also has an impressive record for England’s Young Lions, scoring 179 for the Under-19s against India in 2017.

That total is the highest ever overseas score made by an England Under-19 batsman, eclipsing the previous record of 170, set by Nasser Hussain in 1987.

After signing the contract, Bartlett said: “I’m delighted. As a young cricketer you aspire to become a professional, and for the Club to show faith in me for another few years is brilliant.

"It’s now about taking it season by season and looking to improve every year.

“Playing for Somerset means a lot. When you grow up in the County and come through the Academy you can see what it means to everyone.

"You become part of that cricket family and you just want to do as well as you can for everyone involved with the team.

“I feel like I’ve shown glimpses of what I can do in the 1st XI, so hopefully I can build on that this year and try to become a regular in the starting line-up.”

Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry said: “It’s fantastic news that George has committed his immediate future to the club.

"He demonstrated what he is capable of with his maiden First Class hundred last season.

“He has the potential to establish himself across all three formats over the next few seasons and become a key part of the future success of the club.”