Stuart Law has signed a new contract with Essex which will see him parading his immense talent for the county for the next two years.

The 30-year-old Australian batting star finally put pen to paper on Sunday - just 48 hours before he was due to fly home.

"Naturally we are delighted that Stuart has agreed to remain with us - but not in the least bit surprised," said Peter Edwards, the county's secretary/general manager.

"We were always very confident he would sign. It was not a question of money. Financial arrangement were settled some time ago, but there were one or two minor sticking points which needed to be sorted out.

"They have now been taken care off and the fact that Stuart has agreed a two-year deal is great news for Essex and their supporters.

"It underlines his commitment to us and emphasises how highly we rate him.

"He has proved himself the most successful overseas player in the game this season and next summer we will again be relying heavily on him.

"Because of his involvement with England, I do not envisage Nasser Hussain playing more than four championship matches for us next year.

"So it is a comfort to know that we have a world-class performer like Stuart in our ranks."

Law has scored nearly 6,000 runs since lining up with Essex in 1996 and he has made them at an average of around 58. This season he finished with 1,833 championship runs at an average of nearly 74.

During his four seasons with the county he has collected 121 centuries, eight of them in the last few months while establishing himself as the most exciting and destructive batsman on the county circuit.

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