All-rounder Ravi Bopara commits his future to Essex

The 30-year-old made his bow for Essex's first XI in 2002 and has frequently appeared for them across all three formats since, accruing nearly 10,000 first-class runs and claiming 200 List A wickets.

Bopara has also been involved in 13 Tests, 120 one-day internationals and 38 Twenty20s for England and was part of their World Cup squad earlier this year.

After failing to win promotion in the LV= County Championship this summer, Bopara is backing his former team-mate, Essex's recently-appointed cricket chairman Ronnie Irani, to oversee an upturn in their fortunes.

"I am happy to have signed a new contract," Bopara said.

"The club is making some changes with Ronnie on board. I've played a lot under Ronnie, I know him very well, and I'm trusting him to get things the way we all want here at Essex.

"We're a team that should be competing and performing at a higher level than we are. I think we can achieve that with a couple of new signings and I'm confident that the club will get that right."