England wicketkeeper-batsman John Simpson has signed a contract extension to remain at Middlesex until the end of the 2023 season.

The Bury-born 33-year-old, who played three one-day internationals against Pakistan earlier this month, made his Middlesex debut in 2009.

Simpson has made 386 appearances for the county across all formats, scoring just under 11,000 runs and taking 718 dismissals.

Simpson said: “I am delighted to sign a new contract with Middlesex.

“Nobody at the club is happy with our results this season, but the talent in our ranks is clear.

“It’s exciting to see so many youngsters emerging, and I am looking forward to playing a major role, as a senior player, in setting high standards and delivering the kind of performances and results our members and supporters deserve.”

Former St Gabriel’s RC High School pupil Simpson played Lancashire League cricket for Haslingden when only 10 years old and went on to represent Lancashire from Under-11 upwards.

Yet, despite appearing for Lancashire seconds and earning his first England Under-19s call-up for the 2005 tour of Bangladesh, it took a move to Middlesex to realise his professional cricketing ambitions.

Middlesex head coach Stuart Law said: “Simmo has been an integral part of the dressing room and it’s great to have him with us for the next couple of years. I’m looking forward to working with him for the next phase of his career.”

Given the surprise nature of his call-up that could be that for Simpson in terms of an unlikely England career that he thought must have passed him by.

He made headlines in the second game against Pakistan at Lord’s, taking a stunning catch off Bolton's Lancashire leg-spinner Matt Parkinson to remove Faheem Ashraf after anticipating a sweep shot and snaffling the ball down the leg side.