Paceman Mark Turner has turned down the chance to stay at Somerset and will join Derbyshire on a two-year deal.
Seamer eager to play more four-day cricket for new county
Mark Turner has turned down the chance to stay at Somerset and will join Derbyshire on a two-year deal.
Paceman Turner, a former England under 19 international, has spent the last four seasons at Taunton after joining from Durham.
But while he has been a regular for the Cidermen in one-day cricket, the 25-year-old has made limited appearances in the LV= County Championship.
And a desire to play more four-day cricket is the reason behind the bowler's decision to reject the offer of a new contract from his current employers.
Right thing
"I have played quite a bit of one day cricket with Somerset and I've done quite well," Turner said on Derbyshire's website.
"But I haven't managed to establish myself in the four-day game and that is what I'm trying to achieve.
"Derbyshire showed an interest in me and after speaking to John Morris (Derbyshire's head of cricket) I knew the move was the right thing to do.
"The opportunity to play in all forms of cricket is something I can't turn down at this stage of my career. I am looking forward to the challenge."
Morris was delighted with his latest recruit and believes Turner is yet to reach his peak.
"Mark is a talented cricketer with his best years ahead of him and I am delighted to add him to our squad ahead of the 2011 season," he said.
"That fact that he has been prepared to make this move in search of first team cricket demonstrates that Mark is an ambitious cricketer who is striving to better himself. That is just the kind of player we want to bring to Derbyshire."
Meanwhile, veteran seamer Tom Lungley has been released by Derbyshire after 11 seasons with the county.
