Lincolnshire cricketer Andy Carter has been rewarded for his record-breaking year at Nottinghamshire with a two-year contract at the first-class county.

The Bardney paceman's one-year deal at Trent Bridge was due to expire at the end of this season, but a series of spell-binding performances for Notts 2nds prompted the county to hand him a long-term contract.

Carter's displays have seen him graduate to the first-team towards the end of the season, where he has played alongside the likes of former England Test all-rounder Mark Ealham and wicketkeeper Chris Read.

He played in the first-class games against Oxford University and Worcestershire and has become a regular in Notts' Pro40 League side.

The former Lincolnshire bowler says his game has come on leaps and bounds in 2009 and admits his rapid progress has surprised even himself.

"I wasn't expecting to play in any first-class matches this season, although I was hopeful of breaking into the Pro40 side," said the Lincoln-born paceman.

"I think I might have surprised the coaches at the club, too. My skills have improved this year. In the past I used to bowl short a lot, but now I've got more variations and swing the ball more.

"I think if you'd seen me bowl a couple of years ago and seen me bowl now, you'd be surprised. I'm a different bowler."

"I think that's the key when you step up to first-class cricket.

"You have to improve and add more things to your game. If you don't, you'll struggle to stay there (first-class cricket).

"Overall, it's been a brilliant year for me. It's been everything I hoped for and more."

Carter has missed just one game through injury this season since recovering from a serious ankle operation last winter.

And the former Lindum and Bracebridge Heath star says that is a major factor behind his stellar season.

"I've had injury problems ever since I started playing cricket," he recalled.

"But I feel a lot fitter and stronger now. I did a lot of work with Mark Fell (Lincolnshire director of cricket) a couple of years ago to change my action – and that really helped me.

"I've only missed one game this season which has allowed me to get into a good rhythm."

Carter earned his first-team call-up following some brilliant displays for Notts' second-string.

Earlier this summer, the 21-year-old claimed the best-ever figures by a Notts bowler in a Second Eleven Championship game – 13 for 99 in the 15-run victory over Warwickshire 2nds at Welbeck.