England international Ian Bell has provided home county Warwickshire with another boost ahead of the new season by signing a three-year contract extension.
A day after capturing New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum for the NatWest T20 Blast, the Bears have announced that Bell will remain at Edgbaston until at least the end of the 2017 season.
The Coventry-born 32-year-old, Warwickshire's first player to win 100 Test caps for England, has been on the club's books since under-11s and progressed through the age groups to sign a maiden deal in 1999.
Bell, a member of England’s Test squad departing for the West Indies tomorrow, said: “As a Warwickshire man through and through, I'm absolutely delighted to commit to this fantastic club for another three years.
“I have many ambitions I'm still desperate to fulfil, both on a domestic and international level, and I look forward to hopefully achieving these over the coming years as a Bear.”
Bell made his four-day debut the same year he signed his first professional contract and, at the age of 19 years and 56 days, became the youngest player in the club’s history to score a first-class century in 2001.
He has gone to become one of the most stylish batsmen in the world, playing 105 Tests, 161 one-day internationals and eight Twenty20s for England.
A four-time Ashes winner with his country, Bell has also been successful with Warwickshire, snaring the LV= County Championship in 2004 and 2012, the 2002 Benson & Hedges Cup, the Clydesdale Bank 40 in 2010 plus the Blast last season on home soil.
Warwickshire director of cricket Dougie Brown said: “Ian is a Bear through and through and he has been a fantastic servant to the club.
“Whilst he continues to play a leading role for England, he is also an invaluable member of our squad who makes a huge contribution on and of the pitch.
“He has been one of the best batsmen in the world for several years and everyone at the club is delighted that he remains a Bear for the foreseeable future.”