Highly-rated batsman Dan Lawrence has signed a contract extension that will keep him at Essex until the end of the 2019 season.

Lawrence was recently named Young Cricketer of the Year by the Cricket Writers' Club after amassing 761 runs at an average of 44.76 to help Essex to Specsavers County Championship Division One glory this summer.

The 20-year-old Chingford CC member is in the England Lions squad for the tour to Australia this winter and has been tipped for senior selection in the future.

He said on the Essex's website: "For my first taste of Division One cricket, I thought I had a good season and to play a part in winning a first title in 25 years was incredible.

"To win the championship with your close friends and guys you have grown up playing with is special, now we must work hard to replicate that success next year.

"The England Lions call up and trip to Australia caps off a whirlwind 2017, hopefully 2018 can be just as good, if not better, and I can continue to score loads of runs in the club's success."

Head coach Chris Silverwood added: "Dan is an integral part of what we are trying to achieve at the club and has gone from strength to strength ever since he has been in the first-team environment.

"He is an inspiration to our younger players. I am delighted he has been selected for the England Lions and that will further develop him, both as a player and a man."