Durham County Cricket Club today announced that 25 year-old all-rounder Paul Collingwood has signed a new contract extending his stay at the club for another two years. Collingwood made his one-day international debut for England this season and will go with the squad to Zimbabwe in October, hoping to establish his credentials as a genuine World Cup prospect.

He says: "I am delighted to have signed a new contract and to be part of an exciting team at Durham. We have won promotion to the Norwich Union League Division One with a young team which can only get better and which will also develop as a four-day side.

"I hope to play a big part in Durham's promotion bid in the CricInfo Championship and I would love to be part of a successful cup run."

Club Chairman Bill Midgley says; "Paul is an outstanding talent who has impressed even the Australians. He is a fine example of what we have set out to achieve here by giving young local talent a chance, and we are all delighted that Paul has committed himself to us for the next two years."

Durham secured promotion to the Norwich Union League Division One in a thrilling nine run victory over Worcestershire at the Riverside on the final Sunday of a season during which Collingwood, a local lad from Shotley Bridge, has played a significant part.

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