Graeme van Buuren signs long-term contract extension at Gloucestershire
4 August 2022
Club captain Graeme van Buuren has signed a long-term contract extension at Gloucestershire in a deal that will see the South African remain at the Seat Unique Stadium until at least the end of the 2024 season.
The 31-year-old, who has made Bristol his home since joining The Shire in 2016, will return to the field for Glos for a seventh season next year.
Commenting on his extension, van Buuren said: “It's a huge privilege to have signed a contract extension with Gloucestershire, a Club that's been a huge part of mine and my family's life for the last six years.
"We have made some amazing friends at Glos and I'm loving every minute of my time here. We have had a difficult year in terms of results but I 100% believe that we have a squad that can do great things in the future.”
Having featured heavily in Gloucestershire’s first five County Championship matches, fan favourite van Buuren missed the entire Vitality Blast campaign with a shoulder injury sustained fielding against Somerset in May, but made an impressive return to red ball cricket in July.
The skipper was a key player for Glos in the two Championship games played at the College Ground during the Visit Cayman Islands Cheltenham Festival, impressing particularly against Northants. Scoring 127* in the third innings, van Buuren set up an aggressive declaration before Glos narrowly lost by two wickets on the final day.
A standout all-rounder, van Buuren has represented Gloucestershire on 109 occasions in all formats, passing the 3,000 run mark against Northants, in addition to taking his 77th Glos wicket against Hampshire in May. The South African is a central figure in the dressing room, taking home the Players’ Player of the Season Award in 2020.
The new deal comes after the middle-order batter was unable to participate in several games during the 2021 season, due to a delay in becoming a British citizen and qualifying as a domestic player.
After returning to Glos from Birmingham Phoenix at the end of The Hundred competition, the South African will look to continue his form in Division One, as the club seeks to turn around its fortunes and avoid relegation.
Gloucestershire Cricket Performance Director, Steve Snell, said: “We’re delighted Graeme has signed a long-term extension, he is a terrific player and a terrific human being who leads by example on and off the pitch.
“There have been some tough times this season but Graeme's character has shone through in abundance. It was particularly pleasing in the last four-day game at Cheltenham to see him lead from the front with the bat.
“I firmly believe Graeme has a huge future and a lot of cricket left to play for Gloucestershire, and I’m very excited to see him commit his future to the Club.”
