Schofield commits to Surrey for two years

The England legspinner Chris Schofield has signed a two-year extension to his Surrey contract, after joining the club in 2006 after a lengthy period in the wilderness.

Schofield, who played two Tests for England in 2000, had been turning out for the Minor County, Suffolk, after an acrimonious split with his former employers, Lancashire. But since arriving at The Oval, he has played a key role in both the one-day and four-day format of the game.

After a hugely successful Twenty20 campaign, in which he took 17 wickets at an economy rate of six runs per over, Schofield was rewarded with a recall for England's ICC World Twenty20 campaign in South Africa last month.

For Surrey, Schofield took 50 wickets in all forms of the game at 25.22, as well as chipping in with 305 runs at an average of 20.33.

Commenting on the deal, Schofield said, "I'm really pleased that things are back on track for me now. I have had a lot of uncertain times in my life when I wasn't sure where my cricket was headed but since I joined Surrey last year things have moved forward for me. I love playing cricket here and really look forward to the next couple of years where I hope to help Surrey win some more trophies."

Surrey's cricket manager, Alan Butcher, added: "Chris has fully repaid the gamble we took in offering him a contract last year. His performance in 2007 has convinced me that there is yet more to come in the Chris Schofield fairytale and I am therefore delighted that we have secured his services for a further two years."