Strauss signs off by signing on

Andrew Strauss averaged just over 30 in his eight LV= County Championship appearances for Middlesex this season

Andrew Strauss has extended his Middlesex contract by two years on the eve of departing the United Kingdom for Australia to lead England’s Ashes defence.

The England Test and one-day international captain’s new deal will keep him at the club until the end of the 2012 season, taking his involvement with the county he joined in 1997 to 16 years.

Strauss’ international commitments have limited his appearances for Middlesex, but he did play in eight LV= County Championship and four Clydesdale Bank 40 games this year. The left-handed opener averaged just over 30 in the championship and a shade under 17 in the CB40.

Angus Fraser, managing director of Middlesex, said: “Naturally, we are delighted that Andrew has chosen to remain at Middlesex.

“The role of a county changes once a player becomes established with England.

"On the way through the system counties develop and guide players but once they are with England it becomes more of a supportive role and occasionally counties have to help and rehabilitate players who fall from the England set-up, providing them with a soft landing and the wherewithal to get back to the top.

"I would like to think we possess those qualities at Middlesex and they have been recognised by Andrew.

“The club takes great pride in producing England cricketers and everyone at Middlesex hopes that Andrew follows in the footsteps of fellow Middlesex and England captains Mike Gatting and Mike Brearley in winning an Ashes series in Australia. It would be a fantastic hat-trick for the club.

“In the 2010 domestic cricket season Middlesex did not perform as we wanted to but as a club we must be doing something right.

"To have three players travelling on an Ashes tour is a great achievement. In Strauss we have an outstanding England captain and in Eoin Morgan and Steven Finn two of the most exciting young cricketers not only in England, but the world.

“We expect Andrew’s involvement with Middlesex over the next couple of years to be minimal - he has bigger fish to fry with England - but when he is available to play for us he is a great person to have around.

"His presence is extremely reassuring and he sets a superb example to all our young cricketers.”

Strauss joins Morgan in committing to a two-year extension, while young batsman Dan Housego penned a one-year deal yesterday.

The county have signed Australia one-Test batsman Chris Rogers as their overseas player and former West Indies seamer Corey Collymore on a Kolpak deal. They have released Owais Shah and Pedro Collins while Shaun Udal has retired.