Captain Andrew Gale today signed a one-year extension to his contract with Yorkshire that will keep him at the club until December, 2016.

The 30-year-old batsman also has an option to add a further year to a Yorkshire career that began with his first class debut ten years ago against Somerset at Scarborough.

He has extended his contract after one of his best ever seasons, hitting 1,067 Championship runs at an average of 44.45, including a career-best 272 against Nottinghamshire at Scarborough.

Gale, who became Yorkshire’s youngest ever professional captain when he was appointed aged 26 in December, 2009, said: “Playing cricket for Yorkshire has never been a job to me but a passion and I could never see myself playing for anyone else.

“I’m now entering my 12th year as a professional at the club and my fifth year as captain and although I’m not looking at finishing any time soon, I want to finish my career at Yorkshire.

“I feel over the last few years the club has made some huge strides forward. We have an excellent structure throughout the club with some great people working very hard behind the scenes. The icing on the cake is to now win some trophies.”

Gale, who has scored more than 6,000 first-class runs during his Yorkshire career, admitted last season’s disappointment in missing out to Durham for the title was hard to take, but he is now focused on leading the team in future seasons.

“Last year did hurt, not getting over the line and winning the County Championship, but that is in the past now,” said Gale.

“I’m excited by the current squad we have. We have a great mixture of experience and youth, and the work ethic within the squad is next to none.

“The support staff and players will continue to strive to improve and play the brand of cricket that Yorkshire deserves.”

Gale is the latest in a number of senior players that have signed new deals with the club as Yorkshire attempt to build a consistent squad capable of winning trophies.

First-team regulars Richard Pyrah, Ryan Sidebottom and Adil Rashid all agreed new deals last year while Dan Hodgson, Alex Lees and York’s Jack Leaning have also signed new contracts with Yorkshire.

“It’s great news for the club that Andrew has pledged his future,” admitted Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of cricket.

“As a captain, he is growing year by year and is highly respected in the dressing room.

“He leads by example on the field and will always give everything he has for the county. He is the essence of a Yorkshire cricketer and I’m confident that he can lead us to glory over the next few seasons.”

Gale is one of many Yorkshire players playing in Australia this winter and is featuring for Victorian Premier League side Dandenong Panthers, scoring a century in their victory over Hawthorn-Monash University over the weekend.