Ealham and Harris given extended contracts

Nottinghamshire have handed contract extensions to Mark Ealham and Andrew Harris which will keep them at Trent Bridge until the end of 2007.

"They were very influential in our success and deserve to be rewarded," Mick Newell, the county's director of cricket, told BBC Sport. "Their experience and enthusiasm were very important in the dressing room." Ealham and Harris were star performers for Nottinghamshire last season, sharing 103 wickets.

"We do have an ageing squad and we have to be very conscious of that," said Newell. "It will soon be time to introduce fresh blood into the team - but having older and wiser heads around will help the youngsters to progress."

Ealham, who topped 50 wickets in a season for the first time and won his first championship medal, said: "I've enjoyed two great seasons with Notts and still remain as keen to play cricket as when I started my career. This club is going places, and I have no intention of missing out on that."

Harris, whose career has been hampered by injury troubles, took a match-winning 6 for 76 as Nottinghamshire clinched the title. "I'm delighted to have signed the extension and am looking forward to helping the squad collect more silverware," he said. "My personal target is to play for another five years."