FAST bowler David Stiff has had his Somerset contract extended to the end of the season.

The 24-year-old former Yorkshire, Kent and Leicestershire and England U-19 player has suffered with fitness problems in the past and was brought in on a two-month trial.

However, Somerset have seen enough promise to keep him on.

The county’s director of cricket Brian Rose said: “What he has done so far is to give us an indication that he can get himself together in terms of his mental and physical well being and in terms of playing first class cricket.

“He has got all the right shape to be a fast bowler and he certainly bowls at speed.

“We are now working on his consistency in terms of line and length which may take a few weeks but it may take a year so we have given him the opportunity by extending his contract until the end of the season.

Stiff, who made his Somerset debut in the Championship against Durham and retained his place against Nottinghamshire, said: “To have my contract extended means I now have the rest of the summer to really knuckle down a try to establish a place for myself in the four-day team and push for a one day place later on.

“I feel that I am getting there and even though I know that I am not at my best I am still moving forward and I am looking forward to the next round of Championship matches.”