Warwickshire: Will Porterfield signs two-year contract extension

Warwickshire batsman Will Porterfield has extended his contract at Edgbaston until the end of the 2015 season.

"He's made great strides in the last few months and we had no hesitation in offering him a new deal," said new Bears director of cricket Dougie Brown.

Warwickshire also hope that ex-Surrey and Derbyshire all-rounder Rikki Clarke, currently in Australia with England Lions, also commits his future.

"Rikki is a crucial member of the squad," Brown told BBC WM.

"We'll be looking to get on it straight after he gets back."

Ireland captain Porterfield, 28, hit 395 runs in helping the Bears reach the final of the CB40 last summer.

But, in Warwickshire's victorious County Championship campaign, he averaged just 24 in his 22 innings.

And Brown, who succeeded Ashley Giles as Warwickshire coach last month, believes that Porterfield must now contribute more in four-day cricket.

"His opening stand of 126 with Varun Chopra in the CB40 semi-final at Old Trafford demonstrated his ability on the biggest stage," said Brown.

"But his challenge is to do this consistently across all formats of the game."

Londonderry-born Porterfield, signed from Gloucestershire in 2011, admitted: "It's been a great move for myself, to play for such a big club and give myself the chance of winning trophies.

"I've had two fantastic seasons here and, with such a strong squad, it was an easy decision to stay," he told BBC WM.

"Dougie's taken on the reins and, with also having people on the coaching staff like Graeme Welch and Tony Frost, who are all part of the ethos of the club, it all helps with the continuity."