Sussex have offered fast bowler James Kirtley an extension to his current contract.

Kirtley is committed to the county until the end of the 2002 season, but Sussex are anxious to hold on to one of their prized assets and he is currently considering an improved deal which would keep him at Hove for the next three years.

Kirtley finished with 63 Championship wickets this season and the offer of an improved contract should help ease the disappointment of his omission from the England A party which will tour the West Indies this winter.

Chief Executive Dave Gilbert is furious that Kirtley, who took 23 wickets on last year's tour of Bangladesh and New Zealand has been left out, calling the decision an 'absolute disgrace'.

He has written to the chairman of selectors, David Graveney, expressing his anger and has plenty of support at Hove for his views, especially as Kirtley took more wickets than all five seamers selected for the tour, which will be led by Sussex coach Peter Moores.

"I find it absolutely incredible that James has been left out. He was arguably the bowler of the tour last winter and has taken 278 wickets in the last three seasons," said Gilbert.

"I feel desperately sorry for James. He has been outstanding in all aspects of his cricket in terms of preparation, training, attitude and personal skills."

When he signed his last contract Kirtley's only concern was that Sussex's perceived lack of profile was harming his international ambitions.

Those fears appeared to have been laid to rest a year ago when Kirtley, skipper Chris Adams and all-rounder Robin Martin-Jenkins all received England recognition.

Gilbert believes Sussex have been given a raw deal by the selectors this season.

"If James is a kind of scapegoat for our poor season then I find it despicable," he added. "I can hardly remember seeing a selector at Hove last season yet here we have a guy who has taken nearly 100 wickets, a lot of them on flat belters at Hove where bowlers really have to work for their rewards.

"James is worth his weight in gold to us and he is the one player on the staff whom we would not begrudge anything. That's why we have made him this new offer, if he went on the open market he would be snapped up straight away and we want to make sure he stays at Sussex.

"He's an absolute diamond and I'm so sick in the stomach for him that he isn't going on the A tour this winter, if anyone deserved to go he did."