JOHN HASTINGS will return for a third successive season as Durham's overseas player after signing a new contract for the 2016 campaign.

The powerful 29-year-old has been an outstanding contributor in all three forms of the game since making his debut against Middlesex last June.

In 20 first-class matches, he has picked up 76 wickets, including a career-best 7-60 against Worcestershire earlier this summer. He has also chipped in with six half-centuries to help Durham record some vital County Championship wins.

"It’s absolutely fantastic," said Hastings. "I expressed an interest at the start of the year that I’d love to come back, and I’m really looking forward to finishing off this season well with the boys, because there’s still a chance for trophies at this stage.

“The people in the dressing room and the people up here in the North-East are just fantastic, so my wife and I really, really enjoy it and want to keep coming back.”

Hastings has continued to enhance his reputation as a skilful limited-overs performer in recent years, and was a key part of last season's Royal London One-Day Cup success.

The Australian, who boasts 11 ODI caps for his country, also picked up the Most Valuable Player Award during the recent Big Bash competition.

Hastings will play for the Melbourne Stars again this winter before returning to England for the start of the 2016 campaign.

"I think that’s a good thing," he said. "When you’ve got people coming in and out and you’ve got three or four pros throughout the year, I think it’s hard to get a bit of continuity with team morale and things like that.

"I’ll be here all year again and hopefully I have a nice summer back home in the Big Bash, keep my body ticking over, and then come back and have another successful season."

For Durham, Hastings has proved to be a record-breaker. An unbeaten 80 from only 26 balls against Northamptonshire Steelbacks lit up the Emirates ICG last year and his fifty, recorded in just 19 deliveries, remains the fastest half-century in the club’s history.

Head coach Jon Lewis said: "He’s been instrumental in all competitions for us since he first came to this country. He’s a big personality, and a big bloke, who has fitted in really well at Durham.

"His wife, Bree, has fitted in extremely well too, she’s a part of our family and we’re delighted that they’re going to be with us next year and maybe even longer."