Fast bowler Nathan Gilchrist has extended his Kent contract.

The 24-year-old, who made his Kent debut in 2020 after his arrival from Somerset, will stay with the county at least until the end of next season as their search for head coach Matt Walker’s successor continues.

Gilchrist said: “I’m delighted to extend my Kent contract at a big time in both my career and for the club.

“We didn’t perform at our best in 2024, but 2025 is a fresh start and our core group is still young and talented.

“We want to get back to the top level as soon as we can.”

The right-armer broke into Kent’s first-class and List A sides in 2021, collecting his first five-wicket hauls in both forms of the game, which included 5-38 against Worcestershire in the County Championship.

Gilchrist was part of Kent Spitfires’ One-Day Cup-winning team in 2022 as he took 3-65 against Lancashire in the final at Trent Bridge.

He was Kent’s top wicket-taker in the County Championship that year, taking 33 wickets in eight matches and was named the club’s young player-of-the-year and bowler-of-the-year that October before he got an England Lions call-up in January 2023.

The 2024 summer saw Gilchrist pick up his best figures in first-class cricket to date with 6-24 in relegated Kent’s victory over Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford in County Championship Division 1, as he also broke into Spitfires’ T20 side for the first time.

He claimed two wickets in one over to give Kent victory from a rain-affected away game against Gloucestershire.

Director of cricket Simon Cook said: “Gilly is an exceptionally talented young fast bowler who has made strong progress across all formats since joining the club.

“It was great to see him break into the T20 squad last year and he further demonstrated his potential in Championship cricket.

“He’s on track to become a key player across all our squads.”

Gilchrist was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and grew up in South Africa. He first came to England through a cricket exchange between St Stithians School in Johannesburg and King’s College, Taunton.