Leicestershire have received a significant boost with four players agreeing contract extensions which will keep them at Grace Road until the end of the 2013 season.

Agreement has been reached with a trio of young players, batsmen Josh Cobb and Greg Smith, together with seam bowler Alex Wyatt. Senior batsman Will Jefferson is also extending his stay at the club.

All four would have been out of contract at the end of the coming season.

Naturally, Leicestershire are delighted but, arguably, Jefferson is the key man among the group. Senior batters are hardly thick on the ground at Grace Road – particularly following the retirement of Paul Nixon – and his experience is something the likes of Cobb, Smith and Ned Eckersley can all tap into over the next couple of years.

Jefferson was the only County batsman to top 1,000 runs in the County Championship last season, but he can also be a dominating figure in one-day cricket.

"Will won the 'super over' for us in the T20 semi-final against Lancashire last season so we know how he can bat in that competition," said Leicestershire chief executive Mike Siddall.

"He scored over 1,000 first-class runs but he also provides leadership with the experience that he has."

Looking at the overall picture, Siddall added: "It means all of them will play another two seasons for us at least. That is something we are delighted about. And if we can get things moving in that period of time then, hopefully, they will all want to stay for longer."

Former England under-19 player Cobb has yet to establish himself as a regular in the Championship side.

However, he was a revelation at the top of the order in the one-day game with some blistering hitting. He was the Foxes' leading run scorer in the CB40 competition with 485 but was also largely responsible for a series of fast starts made on their way to T20 glory.

On top of that, he was man of the match in the final triumph over Somerset as he claimed 4-22 with his developing off-spin.

Smith had a disappointing start to last season with runs hard to come by.

However, it was encouraging that he finished the summer strongly and posted a century in the final game of the season against Middlesex at Grace Road. He has spent much of the winter in Australia.

Wyatt made steady progress in 2011 and his height produces the type of bounce that often troubles batsmen.

Meanwhile, fast bowler Robbie Joseph has agreed a short-term deal with the club. Joseph, who has been released by Kent, has been working at Grace Road during the winter and will stay with the County now until at least the end of May.

"If things work out then we will look to extend that," said Siddall.