Jimmy Adams can join an elite group of Hampshire batting legends next season - after he and three teammates signed one-year contract extensions.

Chris Wood, Fidel Edwards and Brad Taylor have also agreed deals until at least the end of next season, when Adams could become one of the county’s top 20 first-class run scorers.

The 37 year-old has scored 18,532 runs in all competitions for his home county - including 12,534 (at an average of 38.33) in first-class competition.

He is now in striking distance of Lionel Tennyson (12,626), Danny Livingstone (12,660) and Jack Newman (13,904) on Hampshire’s list of all-time first-class run scorers.

“I’m delighted to sign another extension,” he said. “I grew up watching Hampshire and have played here for a long time so to still be part of the group is great.

“We felt like we made some good strides this year and did a lot right so to be involved for another season is great – hopefully I can perform well myself but also help aid some of the younger guys.”

Edwards will return to the Ageas Bowl for his fourth season with Hampshire in 2018.

He has taken 78 wickets at 25 apiece for the county in the Championship’s first division, including 45 at 20.80 as Hampshire completed the ‘Great Escape’ in 2015.

After two injury-interrupted seasons, the former West Indies star took 33 Championship wickets at just 24.06 apiece last season.

Left-armer Wood, 27, has only played three Championship matches since Hampshire’s promotion in 2014 after three seasons blighted by knee injuries.

But he provided a reminder of his white-ball skills with two wickets in last year’s T20 semi-final against Notts.

“The club has shown real faith in me these last few years given the injuries I’ve had,” he said.

“I feel I’ve come to an end of a difficult period and was really beginning to hit my straps towards the end of last season.

“Hopefully I can build on that with a full pre-season.”

A 16 year-old Taylor became Hampshire’s youngest player since 1876 in 2013.

But the off-spinning all-rounder has been restricted to only two Championship appearances since, due to injury and the emergence of Mason Crane Taylor has also captained England U19s. Still only 20, he is currently in New Zealand as part of the ECB Player Pathway Programme.