Essex Cricket are pleased to announce that Essex Men's seam bowler Charlie Bennett has signed a contract extension with the Club.
Bennett, 20, has agreed a two-year extension that will keep him at Essex until the end of the 2028 season.
The tall right-arm seam bowler graduated from the Essex Academy in June 2025 before signing a rookie contract with the Club. He made his first-team debut later that month against Somerset at Taunton in the Vitality T20 Blast, live on Sky Sports. Since then, Bennett has established himself within the first-team squad across all three formats, impressing with both the red and white ball.
On signing his new contract, Bennett said: "I am very happy to sign for another two years with Essex.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed the last year and a half and look forward to continuing to develop my game while helping the Club compete for trophies.
"Playing for Essex has been my goal for a long time, so I am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to represent the Club. I hope I can play my part in delivering success and giving our Members and supporters plenty to cheer about."
Born in Hertfordshire, Bennett has represented Essex in 14 List A matches, taking 20 wickets, including career-best figures of 5-36 against Surrey at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground in 2025.
After making his sole T20 appearance in 2025, Bennett featured in 11 Vitality T20 Blast matches this season. Trusted with the new ball during the Powerplay and showcasing an effective range of variations, including the slower ball, Bennett claimed 16 wickets – the second-highest tally behind Shane Snater's 17 – at an average of 22.
Bennett has also continued to develop in red-ball cricket. After making two first-class appearances in 2025, he featured in four more this season, taking six wickets to move to nine wickets from his first six first-class matches for the Club.
Essex Cricket's Director of Cricket, Chris Silverwood, added: "We are really pleased that Charlie Bennett has extended his contract with Essex. Since signing his initial rookie contract with us in June last year, he has come on leaps and bounds.
"Since coming into the first team, Charlie's ability to take wickets across all three formats has really impressed us, and we are very happy with the progress he has made so early in his career.
"We will continue working closely with Charlie to help him develop his game further, but we are really excited by the progress he is making and look forward to seeing him continue to grow with the Club."
