WORCESTERSHIRE'S Brett D’Oliveira and Ed Barnard have given the New Road club a major boost by signing new contract extensions.

Director of cricket Steve Rhodes praised the “tremendous loyalty” shown by the homegrown duo in committing their futures to the County.

All-rounders D’Oliveira and Barnard had two and one years left respectively of their current deals.

But the academy products have committed to undisclosed, longer-term contracts with the County to follow in the footsteps of Josh Tongue, Tom Fell, George Scrimshaw and Ollie Westbury who also recently signed new deals.

D’Oliveira and Barnard have played key parts in second-placed Worcestershire challenging strongly for promotion back to the top flight in the County Championship.

Opener D’Oliveira, who was chosen for England Lions last summer, has scored nearly 600 runs with two centuries this season.

Barnard has totalled 371 Championship runs batting mainly at number seven after being promoted up the order and taken 28 wickets.

D’Oliveira was one of the NatWest T20 Blast's most economical bowlers, picking up 11 wickets at 21.09 and conceding an average of 6.82 runs per over.

Ex-England under 19 player Barnard again featured in the entire T20 campaign.

Rhodes said: “Brett has committed himself to the club and we are delighted.

“He is a wonderful cricketer who plays well in all formats and has those three disciplines of batting, bowling and fielding that he does well.

“Ed has also signed a longer contract. Barny has progressed over the winter in Australia to become a better cricketer all-round.

“We are delighted with his progress. He is in the top seven now, deserves that and you have seen some of the little cameos towards the end of the innings.

“He has got a delicate side to his game but also a bit of power now and we are happy for him to be involved in the longer term just as we are with Dolly.

“It is wonderful to see these guys who have come through our academy committing to the club.

“They are showing real faith in wanting to be part of the journey of success we hope the team can create.

“One of our goals is not just to develop good cricketers but also to hang onto them and these two guys have shown tremendous loyalty in signing longer deals.”

D’Oliveira said: “I was over the moon and pleasantly surprised to have been offered the extension in the first place by the club and then to sign it as well and get the deal I was happy with is absolutely amazing.

“If we stick together as a group moving forward then we will be stronger in the future.

“In terms of my own game I think I have shown improvements over the last few years.

“There is still a lot more to come and I want to achieve a lot more.

“I feel I’ve been improving each season and I’ve just got to keep working hard and moving forward.”

Barnard said: “I’ve been really happy with the way the season has gone and to manage to get this from Bumpy and sign it now is really pleasing.

“It’s great that a lot of other people like Dolly, Tonguey and Felly are also committing to the club with new contracts.

“Worcestershire is a terrific place for young players and we have shown in the Championship this year we are still an improving side.

“Everyone is growing up and maturing each year and although the T20 campaign has been disappointing we are still going from strength to strength as a team.

“Hopefully in the next few years if we keep our core players together that is going to continue.”