LONDON: England captain Alastair Cook has signed a one-year contract extension to stay at county side Essex until the end of 2018, it was announced on Wednesday.

Opening batsman Cook, a one-county man throughout his 13-year career, averaged more than 90 for Essex, based in Chelmsford, east of London, this season and scored 643 runs in between his Test commitments.

The 31-year-old left-hander’s runs helped Essex win the Second Division title and promotion to the top tier of English cricket’s first-class County Championship.

“It was an easy decision to sign with the club for another year,” said Cook.

“Although I am away with England a lot, this club means a lot to me and I am grateful for the opportunity they gave me as a youngster,” Cook, England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer, added.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2016