Sussex batsman Luke Wells has signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until at least the end of the 2019 season.

Wells scored 1,292 runs in just 12 Specsavers County Championship appearances in 2017 after an injury-troubeld start to the year.

He was top-scorer in division two and second highest run-scorer in the competition as a whole behind Kumar Sangakkara of Surrey.

Wells, 26, captained Sussex in their final two matches when Ben Brown was absent.

The Eastbourne-born batsman said: “I’m extremely pleased to have extended my time with Sussex.

Sussex is my home club where I have grown up and I’m very proud to represent my home county.

“We have a lot of work to do over the next two years and beyond to get back to winning ways, but I’m confident we’re capable of doing so.

“I’m hoping to contribute as many wins as I can in that time and to continue leading from the front as a senior player.”

Sussex’s director of cricket Keith Greenfield added: “Luke has had an outstanding season for the club. It’s great that he has agreed to extend his contract as he has turned himself into a key, senior player.

“It’s clear for everyone to see how much he has continued to improve as a player over the past 12 months. He goes from strength to strength."