Monday 15th August 2011

It's been a busy time lately at DCCC as five players have committed their futures to the club, whilst one has chosen to leave.



Firstly, Wes Durston (above, No 3) has signed a new two year contract with the club.

The 30-year-old batting all-rounder has been a consistent performer in all forms of the game since joining the Falcons midway through the 2010 campaign.

Durston's professional career has been resurrected at the County Ground following a string of impressive performances for the Unicorns during the 2010 Clydesdale Bank 40 competition.

A sensational 117 from 68 balls against Sussex at Arundel Castle grabbed the headlines and just three weeks later Durston was scoring 111 from 59 balls for Derbyshire in a Twenty20 match against Nottinghamshire.

The former Somerset man has become a fixture in the Derbyshire team in all forms of the game in 2011 scoring a combined tally of 1,403 runs during the campaign so far.

Durston has scored 693 first-class runs at 36.47 as well as sustaining an average of marginally below 50 in List A limited overs cricket.

An exceptional fielder and handy right-arm off-spinner into the bargain, Durston's 3 for 7 in the recent Clydesdale Bank 40 match against Worcestershire took his tally for the season to 17 wickets in all competitions.

Durston said: "I'm delighted to have been awarded another two years and excited to be a part of Derbyshire's future.

"The Club is assembling a talented young side and backing it to succeed and I buy into that philosophy 100%.

"Hopefully I can keep scoring runs and also help some of the younger players along by sharing my experience with them.

"Clearly I'm very grateful to Derbyshire for handing me the opportunity of resurrecting my professional career and I've been pleased to be able to reward them with some decent performances."

Head Coach Karl Krikken said: "Wes is a talented three dimensional cricketer and I'm delighted he has signed on for another two years.

"Maintaining a consistent level of performance in all three competitions is the benchmark for a professional cricketer and Wes had done that in 2011. That's why he has scored such a high volume of runs.

"His form in the 40 over competition has been particularly sparkling and Wes is a fine example to our young batsmen of how to build, pace and execute a one day innings."

Chairman Chris Grant said: "This is an important signing for the Club because Wes has the vibrancy, natural talent and flair to fit into our young side whilst also adding an experienced head to the camp.

"He was prepared to earn his second crack at professional cricket the hard way with the Unicorns and this two year contract is deserved reward for what he has achieved during the past two seasons."

Tim Groenewald (left) has also signed a new three year contract with Derbyshire which commits him to the Club until the end of 2014.

The 27-year-old fast-medium bowler was targeted by a number of opposition counties but has elected to remain at the County Ground.

Groenewald signed for Derbyshire from Warwickshire ahead of the 2009 season and he has since played 30 first-class matches as well as a further 61 games in limited overs competitions.

His 104 first-class wickets for Derbyshire have come at an average of 29.50 and Groenewald has become an integral part of the side in all forms of the game taking a further 31 Twenty20 and 29 List A wickets.

With 32 wickets in eight LV = County Championship matches so far this season, Groenewald is on course for a 50 wicket campaign.

Karl Krikken said: "Tim has been a real leader for us with the ball this season and I’m delighted he will be with us for another three years.

"To become a consistent performer with the ball in all forms of the game is an excellent achievement and it makes Tim a valuable commodity for us going forward."

Chairman Chris Grant said: "While the main thrust of Derbyshire's future cricket strategy is to back our home grown players, this needs to be tempered by the fact that we have some excellent established cricketers whose presence is crucial both for their contribution on the field and their role in bringing on the youngsters.

"Tim certainly fits into that category because his performances have been excellent during the past three seasons and there is a lot our young cricketers can learn from his skills and professional approach to the game."

Groenewald added: "I have really enjoyed playing my cricket for Derbyshire and I'm delighted to be here for another three years.

"There are a lot of talented young cricketers at the Club and I'm excited about playing alongside them and working towards a successful future."

Tony Palladino has signed a two-year contract. The 28-year-old paceman had one year to run on his existing deal but has now extended his commitment until the end of the 2013 season.

Palladino signed from Essex ahead of the current campaign and has been in sparkling form taking 37 first-class wickets at an average of 24.91.

He has taken two five wicket hauls during the current season; bowling Derbyshire to victory against Glamorgan with figures of 5 for 50 in July as well as recording 5 for 39 in a losing cause against Middlesex back in April.

Head Coach Karl Krikken (left) said: "Tony has led the way with the ball this season, always brimming with energy, running in hard and regularly taking important wickets.

"His performances have been excellent and he is well on the way to a 50 wicket campaign which is the benchmark for a successful season as a bowler."

Palladino said: "Coming to Derbyshire has been an excellent move for me and it has been enjoyable playing regular first team cricket, bowling plenty of overs and taking wickets.

"I'm very happy to have signed an extension, I believe the team is moving in the right direction and I hope to spend a long time here at Derbyshire."

Chairman Chris Grant said: "Although it is crucial to consistently bring through home grown talent, Tony is proof that excellent value can also be achieved recruiting from other counties.

"His performances have spoken for themselves with plenty of wickets in first-class cricket and I’m delighted to have secured his services for the next two years."

However the club has announced that Greg Smith will leave Derbyshire at the end of the current season after the Club elected not to offer a new contract.

The 28-year-old all-rounder has had talks with other counties and Derbyshire's evaluation of Smith's worth falls short of his expectations.

Chairman Chris Grant said: "Our estimation of Greg's market value is less than he can get elsewhere so good luck to him.

"I don't blame him for wanting to land the best deal he can but we are not going to get drawn into a bidding war.

"If there was a realistic chance of us signing him, we would have put a contract on the table, but we were not that close."

Smith made his debut for Derbyshire in 2006 and he has gone on to make 72 first-class appearances as well as a further 109 games in the limited overs forms of the game.

He has scored 3,727 first-class runs for Derbyshire to date, was capped in 2009 and captained the side for a short period towards the end of the 2010 season.

The club has also revealed that Jonathan Clare has signed a three year contract which commits him to Derbyshire until the conclusion of the 2014 season.

The 25-year-old all-rounder has made 34 first-class appearances for the Club since making his debut late in the 2007 campaign.

A product of the Lancashire’s age group and Academy system, Clare played Second XI cricket for Derbyshire as a trialist from 2005 to 2007.

After taking a debut five-wicket haul against Nottinghamshire, Clare signed a one-year professional contract for the 2008 campaign.

A longer-term contract quickly followed as Clare scored 555 runs and took 31 wickets during his debut season including a century and a seven-wicket haul in the match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Clare was selected for an ECB Skills Set in fast bowling during the winter of 2008/09 and he has gone on to score 1,139 runs at an average of 27.11 and take 92 wickets at 29.14 during his Derbyshire career so far.

The 2011 campaign is on course to be Clare's most prolific to date with both bat and ball with a tally of 484 runs and 30 wickets already to his name in the first-class game this year.

Head Coach Karl Krikken said: "Jon showed a huge amount of promise during his debut full season in 2008 and it has been great to see him start to realise that potential during the current campaign.

"It's always great for the balance of the side to have a player who is capable of scoring centuries as well as performing as a front line bowler.

"Jon has all the talent and attributes to succeed both as a batsman and a bowler. He also brings an excellent attitude and work ethic to the camp. I'm delighted he will be here for at least the next three years."

Chairman Chris Grant added: "The story of Jon Clare's rise from Second XI trialist to flourishing professional cricketer is one that gives hope to young aspiring cricketers around the country.

"The opportunity to prove himself at first team level was a long time coming for Jon but, crucially, when it came he grasped it with both hands and has since demonstrated an exceptional attitude to his cricket which is allowing his undoubted talent to flourish.

"Jon is an entertaining player to watch and it has been great to see him scoring runs and taking wickets during the current season – a happy trend I hope to see him continue for years to come.”

Clare said: "It's great to know the club are backing me to succeed long-term with the awarding of this contract and I hope we are in for some exciting times during the next few seasons.

"After a couple of stop-start campaigns where injuries have struck and limited the amount of cricket I have been able to play, it has been pleasing to become a regular again in the team this season.

"Things have been going well and hopefully they will continue to do so for the next few years."

And Finally, Paul Borrington has also signed up to a new three year deal. The 23-year-old batsman is a graduate of the Academy and has been in sensational form for Ticknall Cricket Club in the Derbyshire Premier League this season scoring a record breaking eight centuries.

Borrington has two first-class hundreds to his name - both scored against county opposition for Loughborough MCCU - as well as five half centuries in four day cricket for Derbyshire.

Borrington said: "I am delighted to have been given this opportunity to continue my development as a professional cricketer with Derbyshire.

"Naturally I now want to force my way into the first team and to enjoy a long and successful career in the first-class game."

Head Coach Karl Krikken said: "I have worked with Paul from a very young age and he has all the attributes to succeed at the top of the order in the first-class game.

"Paul has made occasional appearances in the first team since making his debut in 2006 and he was prolific against county opposition during his time with Loughborough MCCU up to 2009.

"The challenge for him now is to earn a place in the starting eleven on merit by scoring runs in the Second XI, then to sustain his position with more runs at first team level."

Chairman Chris Grant said: "I'm delighted to see another of our young Academy graduates commit his future to the Club.

"The awarding of this contact demonstrates that Paul has our full backing. Now he will be given maximum support in the quest for a long and prosperous professional career."

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