Ramprakash commits to Surrey

Mark Ramprakash has pledged to continue playing into his forties after extending his contract at Surrey.

The 39-year-old former England batsman, whose current deal was due to expire after this season, has put pen to paper on a new contract which will keep him at the Brit Oval until the end of the 2011 campaign.

By then he will be 42, but Ramprakash, who last season became the 25th player in history to score 100 first-class hundreds, is confident he can continue the form that has brought him 12,085 runs at an average of 75 for Surrey.

“I have had a fantastic career up until now but still feel like I have much more to give”, he said.

Mark Ramprakash insists his appetite for runs remains as strong as ever despite his age

“There are a huge amount of runs left in me and I look forward to helping shape a new era of Surrey cricket, both at the crease and in the dressing room.

“Surrey have a number of exciting young batsmen and it’s now down to me and other experienced players at the club to work with the management team to help them use their talent and succeed in the professional game.”

Ramprakash has averaged at least 50 in seven of his eight seasons since joining Surrey from Middlesex in 2001, and he is the only player to average 100 in two successive summers - a feat he achieved in 2006 and 2007.

Chris Adams, Surrey professional cricket manager, added: “Mark’s record in recent years has been simply staggering and I am over the moon that he has decided to extend his career with us.

“Statistics like those he has accumulated throughout his career simply do not lie and I look forward to watching him score thousands more runs and working with him to secure Surrey’s future as a successful club for many years to come.”