Bell’s three-year deal with Bears

ENGLAND batsman Ian Bell has signed a three-year contract extension with Warwickshire that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2017 season, the county have announced. Bell signed his first contract with Warwickshire in 1999 after rising through the youth ranks from the Under 11 team. The 32-year-old, who has played 105 Test matches and 161 oneday internationals for England, said: ‘As a Warwickshire man through and through, I’m absolutely delighted to commit to this fantastic club. ‘I have many ambitions I’m still desperate to fulfil, both on a domestic and international level, and I look forward to hopefully achieving these over the coming years as a Bear.’ Bell claimed the County Championship in 2004 and 2012 and won the Benson & Hedges Cup in 2002, the ECB 40 in 2010 and the Nat West t20 Blast last season. He has scored 48 centuries in 246 firstclass matches. Warwickshire director of cricket Dougie Brown said: ‘He has been a fantastic servant to the club. Whilst he continues to play a leading role for England, he is also an invaluable member of our squad who makes a huge contribution on and off the pitch. ‘He has been one of the best batsmen in the world for several years and everyone at the club is delighted that he remains a Bear.’ Bell departs for England’s three-Test tour of West Indies today before home series against New Zealand and Australia this summer.

INDIA batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has become Yorkshire’s overseas player after Pakistan’s Younis Khan pulled out of his proposed move to Headingley yesterday.