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.”