Grant Flower extends Essex contract

Essex have announced that Grant Flower, the Zimbabwean allrounder, has signed a new two-year contract with the club that lasts end of the 2008 season.

Flower, 35, whose brother Andy also plays for the club, scored 307 runs at 34.11 and took seven wickets at 23.71 in six Championship matches last season, and was a key member of their one-day team.

"I see myself more now in the one-day set-up, but if there are any injuries or loss of form then hopefully I can be ready to take my chances in the Championship side as well," Flower told the club's website. "It's not about the individual - and if the team's doing well and I've got some sort of role with Essex then I'll be pretty happy".

Flower played 67 Tests for Zimbabwe before retiring from international cricket in 2004, and joins Alex Tudor and Ryan Ten Doeschate who also signed new deals with the club in recent weeks.