Chambers Pens Extended Deal

Chambers - recovering from surgery.

Fast bowler Maurice Chambers has signed a two-year contract extension with Essex that takes him through the 2011 season.

The 21-year-old has been rewarded for making good progress throughout the summer, playing in 11 of their 12 Twenty20 Cup matches in addition to three championship games and two Pro40 fixtures.

"It's nice to have secured my future with Essex," said the Jamaican-born player. "Last season was my best so far since graduating from the Academy - I played in most of the Twenty20 games and a couple of championship matches so it was a good season."

However, an ankle injury ended Chambers' season prematurely although he is well on the way to recovery after undergoing surgery.

"I'm recovering nicely and am in no pain," he added. "All being well I might start walking through my run-up at Loughborough before going to Florida, which is going to be mainly fitness-based.

"I'm looking forward to it but it's going to be a lot of hard work. The ECB have shown a lot of faith in me to keep me involved in these groups and I hope to continue to progress next season by playing more first-team games for Essex.

"My main goal at the moment is to get myself into a position to be opening the bowling in Essex's first Championship game in 2009."