Surrey hand Mark Ramprakash new deal
Last updated on .From the section Cricket
Surrey batsman Mark Ramprakash has signed a contract extension that will keep him at The Oval until 2012.
The 41-year-old, who has scored 15,030 first-class runs since joining Surrey from Middlesex in 2001, will be 43 when his new deal expires.
He told the Surrey club website: "I am still enjoying my cricket, maintaining my fitness and am still able to score runs for Surrey.
"Extending my contract was a very simple decision for me."
Ramprakash continued: "Surrey have a very exciting young side who I feel have the capability to win trophies over the next two years.
"Helping them achieve their potential will be both enjoyable and rewarding and I look forward to playing my full part over the next two years at The Oval."
Ramprakash is one of only 25 players in the history of the game to have scored 100 first-class hundreds, reaching the landmark with an unbeaten 106 against Yorkshire at Headingley in 2008.
He has since scored a further 13 first-class tons to sit 16th on the all-time list of century makers.
The right-hander made his Middlesex debut as a 17-year-old in 1987 and has since scored 34,839 runs in 442 first-class games.
Ramprakash played his first Test match for England in 1991, but his international career fell short of the standard he set in county cricket.
He played the last of his 52 Tests in 2002, with his record standing at 2350 runs at an average of 27.32.
Ramprakash will miss the start of the new county season, his 25th as a professional, after injuring his knee playing football in November.
Surrey professional cricket manager Chris Adams said: "Mark Ramprakash is the finest domestic batsman of his generation and still has a huge amount to offer Surrey.
"To have a man with his ability, experience and energy in your dressing room is simply something that cannot be bought and I look forward to continue working with him for the next two seasons."
