The 32-year-old was named as our PKF Player of the Month for June after returning from injury to claim consecutive five-wicket hauls against Hampshire and Sussex in the Championship and has targeted more scalps in the current match with Glamorgan.

He said: ?It?s nice to get back into four-day cricket after being smashed to all parts in the Twenty20 Cup and hopefully we can continue where we left off in the first half of the season.

?We?re very much in the hunt for the title and I?m looking forward to playing my part. I feel fit and am bowling in the right areas to get more wickets.?

Director of Cricket Mick Newell said: ?Getting AJ fit and giving him a run of games was always going to be important for the side. You always get 100 per cent commitment from him and his pace and control has been very good since his recovery from a broken thumb.

?He?s a wicket-taking bowler who?s full of confidence and will have a major role to play in four-day cricket for the rest of the season.?