KP extends Hampshire stay

2007-12-12 17:42

London - England batsman Kevin Pietersen has signed a new three-year contract with Hampshire, the southern English county announced on Wednesday.

Pietersen, currently on tour with England in Sri Lanka, said in a statement: "I get a really warm welcome from the Hampshire fans whenever I am down at the Rose Bowl and I look forward to that continuing in the coming seasons."

"Hampshire is a great club with big ambitions, and I want to be part of that," the 27-year-old South Africa-born batsman added.

Pietersen joined Hampshire from Midlands county Nottinghamshire in 2005.

Hampshire chairperson Rod Bransgrove said he was pleased with the new deal, even though Pietersen rarely plays for the county, captained by Australia leg-spin great Shane Warne, because of his ongoing England central contract.

"KP is a true world-class talent, and this is great news for all Hampshire fans," said Bransgrove.

"We don't see him quite as often as we would like, but that's only because he continues to play so brilliantly in the international arena.

"We savour the times we have him in the Hampshire side, and I'm certainly looking forward to him giving the opposition bowlers a rough ride here at the Rose Bowl on more than a few occasions next season."

Pietersen is ranked the world's sixth-best Test batsman and fifth in the International Cricket Council's one-day ratings and Hampshire cricket manager Paul Terry, himself a former England batsman, said: "KP adds something special to the team whenever he plays for us.

"His skills are an inspiration to our young players, and I am delighted that he will be with the Hawks for another three years at least."

- SAPA