Derbyshire trio sign on

Tom Lungley claims Geraint Jones' scalp on his return to Derbyshire in September following a month's loan at Lancashire

Buy this photo

Derbyshire have tied up three key seamers for the 2010 campaign by handing contract extensions to Tim Groenewald, Ian Hunter and Tom Lungley.

Groenewald, the 25-year-old South Africa-born all-rounder, topped Derbyshire’s first-class bowling averages in his first season at the County Ground with 34 victims at 27, having joined from Warwickshire during the close-season.

Groenewald twice recorded six-wicket hauls in the LV= County Championship, including a career-best 6-50 against Surrey at Whitgift School.

Hunter, 30, played seven first-class matches in 2009, taking 21 wickets at an average of 28.23, including two five-wicket hauls.

Next season will be Lungley’s 11th as a Derbyshire player. During an injury-plagued campaign which also included a suspension, the 30-year-old was sent on a month’s loan to Lancashire in August.

Derbyshire head of cricket John Morris said: “Although he slotted straight into our one-day team at the start of the season, Tim had to wait patiently before his opportunity came in the first-class arena.

“Once he achieved that, Tim never looked back and was a whole-hearted performer and a regular source of wickets for the team.

“Ian was a reliable source of wickets during the opening weeks of the season while we were setting about proving ourselves as genuine promotion contenders. Hopefully he can recapture that form in 2010.

“Tom is a valuable member of our bowling staff and I am pleased that he will be around for us again next season.”

Last week Derbyshire also secured a return for captain and overseas player Chris Rogers, as they attempt to win promotion to Division One of the championship.