Flower prolongs Essex stay

Essex all-rounder Grant Flower has extended his contract with the county for another year, taking him up to the end of the 2009 campaign.

The 37-year-old has been rewarded for a strong finish to the current season, during which he scored half-centuries in four successive one-day matches.

Grant Flower was awarded man-of-the-match in the FP Trophy final and Pro40 decider

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This included the two match-winning innings against Kent that helped secure the Friends Provident Trophy final at Lord’s and the NatWest Pro40 Division Two title in a decider at Canterbury.

Flower said: “Halfway through the season I thought that would probably be it [the end of my Essex career at the finish of the year] but I’m very happy to be staying at Essex. Sussex did speak to me but I always thought that if Essex offered me something I would stay.

“They are a good bunch of guys at Essex and I’ve been here for four years so at this stage in my career I wouldn’t want to move on, ideally.

“There is a good spirit and winning culture at Essex and I don’t see why we can’t get better. With the young guys coming through, and new signings, in theory we should be stronger with more competition for places.”

Flower played in 67 Tests and 219 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe. He announced his international retirement in 2004 and joined his younger brother Andy as Essex.