Trescothick stays at Somerset

London - Former England batsman Marcus Trescothick has signed a new three-year contract with Somerset, the English county announced on Tuesday.

One-club man Trescothick has committed his future to the west country side until 2012, with an option for a further year.

The left-hander, who celebrates his 34th birthday on Christmas Day, told the club's website: "I am absolutely delighted to have signed a new contract with Somerset.

"My aim is to play for as long as I can, at least until I am 40 and beyond, if I am fit enough."

In October the opener, whose England career was ended by his inability to travel abroad, returned home from India following a recurrence of a stress-related condition.

Trescothick has made repeated attempts to overcome the limitations his illness, which he chronicled in an award-winning autobiography published last year, has put on his career.

He was due to take part in Somerset's pre-season trip to the Middle East in early 2008 but only got as far as London's Heathrow Airport.

Prior to that he travelled to Australia for the 2006/07 Ashes series but returned home after playing only one tour match.

The batsman has since concentrated on playing for Somerset, for whom he has continued to score heavily, and helped them qualify for the India trip by finishing as runners-up to Sussex in this year's Twenty20 Cup.