Goddard cut by Derbyshire

Lee Goddard stumps Yorkshire's Gerard Brophy in their Friends Provident t20 match, a competition in which he was a regular

Derbyshire have confirmed that wicketkeeper Lee Goddard has left the club after being deemed “surplus to requirements” in his first season back at the County Ground.

Goddard, 27, only rejoined the county from Durham during the winter, but appears to have lost his long-term place to 20-year-old Tom Poynton, who is currently nursing a finger injury.

In the meantime, the former Worcestershire and Gloucestershire keeper Steve Adshead has been drafted in as cover.

Adshead took the gloves for the county’s two contests at Chesterfield, the Clydesdale Bank 40 match against Yorkshire and the ongoing LV= County Championship game with Northamptonshire.

Derbyshire head of cricket John Morris said: “We made the decision to sign Lee Goddard following James Pipe’s retirement from the professional game and hopes were high that he could become a long-term replacement.

“Unfortunately it hasn’t worked out for him with gloves or bat so we are looking at alternative options.”

Goddard played eight first-class matches this season, taking 24 catches and averaging 16.5 with the bat, with a top score of 67 against Surrey at Queen’s Park.

The Yorkshireman was a near ever-present behind the stumps in the Falcons’ Friends Provident t20 campaign.