Ali signs new contract at New Road

Kabir Ali has signed a new four-year contract with Worcestershire, which will keep him at New Road until 2008. Ali's current deal was due to run out at the end of this coming season, but he will now be part of Worcestershire's future, under the new captaincy of Vikram Solanki.

Ali, 24, signed for Worcestershire as an 18-year-old, progressing rapidly to become one of the best swing bowlers in the country. "I am delighted to sign a long-term deal with Worcestershire," he said. "I am now approaching a very important phase in my career and believe that I can take my game to the next level with the help I receive from Worcestershire. I have always had an excellent relationship with Tom Moody (director of cricket) and Damien D'Oliveira (assistant coach) and I'm sure they can help me continue to develop my game."

He was one of the few positives to come out of England's one-day series against South Africa, where he finished with 13 wickets at 26 apiece, and held his nerve in the thrilling finish at Bloemfontein, where his last-ball wicket of Andrew Hall sealed an unlikely tie for England.

So far, he has only earned one Test cap, against South Africa at Headingley in 2003, and he may find it difficult to force his way into England's current Test bowling line-up. But his one-day performances - for England and Worcestershire - have put him in the frame for the 2007 World Cup.

Last summer was frustrating for Ali, with injuries restricting him to just eight Championship games, allowing Alex Wharf to edge ahead of him into the England one-day side. Ali missed out on the Champions Trophy and the short tour of Zimbabwe and is keen to make up for lost timer. "I've had a few problems in the past with my fitness and at one stage had to remodel my action because of a stress fracture in my back and last season was frustrating injury-wise. But I'm working harder than ever on my fitness and also it's the same in terms of my batting."

He will have the opportunity to form a powerful bowling attack at New Road this summer. Shoaib Akhtar is due to arrive in June and Zander de Bruyn - the South Africa all-rounder - is joining for the whole of the summer.