Cricket-News.Org

Batsman Alastair Cook has signed a new three-year contract with Essex that will keep him at the Club until the end of the 2009 season.

The 21-year-old put pen to paper on the deal shortly before leaving the country on Friday as part of the England squad for the upcoming Ashes series.

After an excellent start to his England career, Cook was recently awarded a central contract by the ECB for the next international year but has also committed himself to his County in conjunction.

He confirmed to the Essex CCC website (www.essexcricket.org.uk):

“I’ll be here for another three years and it’s excellent for me to have confirmed that. Essex have been very good to me in the last three or four years since I started playing county cricket, and even before that, so I hope my relationship with them can continue.

“I’m looking forward to still being around the Club but hopefully not playing too much because that will mean I’m still playing for England, which is very much what I want to be doing.”

Essex Chief Executive David East added: “We are delighted that Alastair has been awarded a central contract but have overlaid that by agreeing a contract with him at Essex up to 2009.”

Cook started his Test career in March with a century against India in Nagpur before reaching three figures twice more during the summer against Pakistan. Cook has so far scored 761 Test runs @ 54.35.

The left-hander also compiled two centuries in just three Liverpool Victoria County Championship matches for Essex during the 2006 season to finish with 424 runs @ 141.33.

A full interview with Alastair Cook, speaking exclusively to the Essex CCC website (www.essexcricket.org.uk) is now available in the ‘Looking back, looking forward’ section.