Star batsman is staying with Sussex

Left-handed Irishman Joyce, 32, enjoyed an excellent second season with the county, particularly in the LV=County Championship and Clydesdale Bank 40.

His Championship century against Derbyshire at Horsham wrote him into the record books as it was the first time that the top four batsmen in a Sussex innings had all reached three figures.

He also announced this summer that he intends on returning to play international cricket for Ireland while satisfying both club and country commitments, and he was recently chosen in the provisional Irish squad for the 2011 World Cup as the ICC granted him special dispensation to once again represent the nation of his birth.

The Irish are due to face England in Group B of the World Cup in March and there is a possibility he could be facing Sussex team-mates Luke Wright and captain Michael Yardy.

Dubliner Joyce said: “‘I’m delighted to have signed an extension to my contract at Sussex. Since moving down to the south coast I feel my game has really moved on under the guidance of the coaches here.

“The next few years will be an exciting time for the club with all the ground development going on and we have a young and hungry squad of players, so I’m chuffed that I’ve been given the opportunity to be a part of it for at least another three years”.

Sussex captain Michael Yardy said, “Ed has been an exceptional signing for the club over the last couple of seasons and securing him to the club for the future is great news for everyone involved with Sussex”.