Barnett signs extension to Gloucestershire contract

Gloucestershire veteran Kim Barnett has signed a two-year extension to his contract with the club. The deal will keep Barnett at the west-country club until the end of the 2003 season, by when he will have reached the age of 43.

Barnett has continued the good form he showed for twenty years with Derbyshire after moving to Gloucester for the start of the 1999 season. He tops the club's first-class averages this summer, with a century in the CricInfo Championship. Last month he surpassed Graham Gooch to become leading all-time run scorer in the Norwich Union League (formerly Sunday League).

Speaking on the new deal, Barnett said: "I've agreed to stay with Gloucestershire for two more years after this one and that will take me up to 25 seasons in first-class cricket.

"I am happy with the way things are going and looking forward to playing for another couple of years."

The news of Barnett's continued commitment to the club comes as a boost ahead of Saturday's Benson and Hedges Cup Final clash with Surrey. It will be Barnett's sixth consecutive Lord's final, as Gloucestershire look to secure their fifth domestic knock-out trophy in the past three seasons.

Earlier in the summer, Barnett was short-listed for the vacant Chief Executive position at the club. Known for his commitment to fitness, the opener now intends to concentrate on playing.

*Gloucestershire are still waiting on the fitness of seam bowler Mike Smith ahead of Saturday's Lord's final. The left-armer has only played once for the first team after suffering a groin problem pre-season. Fellow paceman Jon Lewis has already been ruled out of the squad, as has vice-captain Tim Hancock, who broke his hand during fielding practice. Ian Harvey will play in spite of a hand injury.