Samit Patel, the Nottinghamshire batsman, has extended his contract with the club until 2009.

�..This year has been a good one for me personally and it�..s been great to play regular first-team cricket," he said in a statement released on Monday. �..I feel I�..ve begun to take important steps forward with my performances. I�..m giving myself more chances to score runs and making bigger contributions to the team.

�..You can�..t play anywhere better than at Trent Bridge and it�..s the only place I want to be for my whole career.�.�

Patel, 21, played a key role in the Nottinghamshire's Twenty20 Cup campaign this season and recently scored his maiden Championship century against Middlesex at Lord�..s.

�..Samit has established himself in the team in all competitions and that�..s down to all the hard work he�..s put in," Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire's director of cricket, said. "He�..s a far better player now than 12 months ago and it�..s great to see a local lad in the side. He has the potential to play at a higher level but knows he will need to continue to progress with us to do that.�.�