Tim Murtagh is not intending to hang up his cricket spikes yet, as his benefit year at Middlesex nears its climax.

A benefit year is awarded to players who have served the county for a long period and, as such, are an indication a player is closer to the end of their career than the beginning.

But the 34-year-old has no intention of giving up yet and wants to carry on for another two or three years. He said: “Everyone keeps asking me that. I’m not sure if they’re trying to tell me something! I’ve put some thought in but not as much as my wife wants me to. I’d like to keep playing for as long as I can.

“I didn’t want the benefit year to take the focus away from cricket. I want to go for two or three more years yet but one injury could finish you off.”

The paceman’s year has gone well so far with more events to come in the coming weeks and months.

“We’ve had dinners, poker nights and wine tasting dos,” added Murtagh. “We’ve got a benefit match at Hampstead at the end of the month. I’ve had a great chairman, in Mike Altendorf, who has enabled me to focus on cricket. It’s enabled me to make new contacts.

“We’ve got a few events to go. We’re trying to sell 400 places for a gala ball at The Grange in St Pauls on November 19.”

Bowlers: (Top L-R) Toby Roland Jones, James Harris, Steven Finn, Tim Murtagh, Ollie Rayner, (Bottom L-R) Tom Helm, Ravi Patel, James Franklin, Gurjit Sandhu, Harry Podmore

Murtagh admitted he had not expected to be handed the honour and said it was up there with his Ireland debut.

He said: “It’s right up there in terms of the honours I’ve had, alongside getting my first cap for Ireland, but to get a benefit year is very humbling.

“I hadn’t put any thought into it. It was special.”

Middlesex moved into second with victory over Sussex – although they remain 38 points behind Yorkshire – with Murtagh claiming his 500th first class wicket.

“To win and tick off another milestone, with my 500th wicket, was personally very satisfying,” he said. “All we can do is keep the pressure on Yorkshire but they are playing great cricket and will be hard to catch. Second place for us would be great.”

For more information about Murtagh’s benefit year, visit www.murtagh2015.co.uk.