Shane Warne, Hampshire's charismatic skipper, has signed an extended contract that could keep him at the Rose Bowl for another four years.

The Australian leg-spin legend, who has already spent two seasons with Hampshire, has agreed a new two-year deal, plus an option for another two-year rolling contract.

And the world's leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, with 566, has further committed himself to Hampshire by planning to become a resident of the county. He has bought a house in Southampton, just a few miles from Hampshire's Rose Bowl HQ.

"I am very committed to Hampshire Cricket and very happy to come back and live in Hampshire. My family love the area," says Shane Warne.

"Hampshire has a young team that is rapidly taking shape and should be a real force to reckon with in the years to come."

Aged 35 and just four wickets short of 1,000 in first-class cricket, Warne will play for Hampshire until July 11th this summer before leaving for Australia's five-Test Ashes series against England. But he will return in September for the last four matches and is expected to be clear of international commitments in the 2006 English season.

Shane Warne took 108 wickets in all cricket in his first season with Hampshire in 2000 and followed that up with another 73 when he returned last year.