Ten Doeschate scored 845 runs at an average of 42 last term

Essex all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate has agreed a two-year extension to his contract, which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2010 season.

The 27-year-old, who played for the Netherlands at the World Cup, scored three Championship centuries in 2007.

"My first goal is to work on my bowling to aim for 1,000 Championship runs and 20 wickets next year," he said.

Chief executive David East said: "Year on year, he has demonstrated his rising stature and is pivotal to us."