Sussex captain Michael Yardy signs new contract at Hove

Yardy averaged 42.15 with the bat in first-class cricket last season

Sussex captain Michael Yardy has signed a new three-year contract which will keep him at Hove until the end of the 2012 season.

The 29-year-old took over the captaincy of the county at the start of the 2009 season and led them to the Twenty20 Cup and the Pro40 Division One title.

He also took Sussex to the Friends Provident Trophy final, eventually losing to Hampshire.

Yardy said: "I'm very excited to have agreed a new contract."

The all-rounder scored 1,096 runs in first-class cricket last summer and led the club to the first Champions League tournament in India.

He added: "I'm looking forward to helping improve the club and achieving our goals for the 2010 season with the players and coaching staff."

Sussex's professional cricket manager, Mark Robinson, said: "It's fantastic to see the captain, along with other senior players - such as Nash, Joyce and Wright - committing themselves to the club.

"Yards led the team brilliantly in his first term as captain. He's only going to grow as a leader and, as a player, he is a massively important cog in both our four and one-day aspirations."