New Essex deal for Cook

Now batsman can focus on England challenges

Last updated: 23rd October 2008

Alastair Cook half century v South Africa at the Oval

Cook: Essex moving forward

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England opener Alastair Cook has signed a contract extension with Essex, ending speculation of a move away from Chelmsford.

Cook, whose previous contract expired next summer, has signed a two-year extension which ties him to the county until the end of the 2011 season.

The 23-year-old faces a long and potentially gruelling series of matches between now and the end of the year, starting with the money-spinning Stanford Super Series in the West Indies and continuing with seven one-day internationals and two Tests in India.

Commitments such as those have restricted the number of times Cook has been available to his county in the last two years, but last season he played a crucial role in the Chelmsford side's Friends Provident Trophy win.

Resolved

And with his domestic future resolved, he is ready to give his full attention to England's testing winter programme.

"It's been great to have a few weeks off but now it's time to get serious again," Cook said.

"With India having just beaten Australia it's going to be a good opportunity to test ourselves and to see how we are progressing ahead of next year's Ashes.

"India is a great, albeit tough, place to tour and I'm really looking forward to it."

On his new county deal, Cook added: "I'm delighted to have signed a deal to continue my relationship with Essex County Cricket Club for the foreseeable future. I hope to play for England for as long and as much as I can but it's important to have the support of everyone at Essex, who are a county moving forward very quickly under [captain] Mark Pettini and [coach] Paul Grayson.

Secure

"It's nice that I've been able to secure my future before going away and hopefully Essex will always be there for me.

"Winning the Friends Provident Trophy at Lord's was undoubtedly one of my highlights of 2008. Having grown up playing for Essex since the under-12s it was a special moment and hopefully the first of many."