Solanki commits to Worcestershire

	Vikram Solanki will be at New Road until the end of 2012 © Getty Images

Vikram Solanki, the Worcestershire captain, has committed his future to the county, signing a four-year deal that will keep him at New Road until the end of 2012. He had 12 months left on his current contract.

Solanki, 33 in April, made his first-class debut for Worcestershire in 1995 and captained the club to promotion from Division Two last season. He also made his highest first-class score - 270 -in 2008, and was the first to reach 1000 runs for the season.

"I have a long association with the club and I am very pleased to extend that association," he said. "I have enjoyed my time at Worcestershire immensely, have been fortunate enough to play with some superb players - Graeme Hick, among others - and am happy to sign a new deal.

"The fact that we are all working together as a group throughout the winter has never been done before. That is very different. We are fitter as a squad and we will start the season with a certain amount of optimism."

Worcestershire's director of cricket Steve Rhodes was delighted with Solanki's decision, which comes after Stephen Moore, the leading run-getter in first-class games in 2008, also opted to stay on. "Vikram is an integral part of the side as captain and a major batsman," Rhodes said. "He has been here a long time now and it is important we make sure that we secure his future and that of the good players.

"Moore signed a new three-year contract at the end of last season and it is nice we can keep them here when you see a lot of the smaller clubs losing players to the big clubs."