Derbyshire squad takes shape

Former Yorkshire leg-spinner Mark Lawson has been given a chance to stake a claim for a place in the Derbyshire line-up next season after being registered for the 2009 campaign.

Dan Birch, Ian Hunter and Steve Stubbings have signed new deals while academy seamer Atif Sheikh has been awarded his first professional contract.

However, Derbyshire have decided to release 23-year-old Wayne White, who made his debut in 2005 and played 11 first-class and 14 List A matches.

Steve Stubbings will embark on his 12th season next summer

He has taken 31 first-class wickets for Derbyshire, with a career-best 5-87 against Northamptonshire in 2007.

Birch, who signed for Derbyshire ahead of the 2007 season, has been a consistent performer during the 2008 campaign, scoring 652 runs in 12 matches at an average of 34.

He has passed 50 on four occasions in all competitions and his brutal 76 was crucial to Derbyshire's NatWest Pro40 victory over Northamptonshire.

Hunter also produced one of his best performances in the memorable victory at Wantage Road as his eight-over spell of 3-18 gave the Phantoms the perfect start to the match.

Stubbings’ new deal means that he will embark on his 12th season with Derbyshire in 2009.

His best performances came in the group stage of the Friends Provident Trophy when he averaged 51.75 in six matches. Although limited to 10 first-class appearances, he scored 506 runs at an average of 31.62.

Sheikh, a 17-year-old left-arm fast-bowler who joined the academy in 2007, becomes the fourth academy graduate on the full-time playing staff alongside Dan Redfern, Paul Borrington and Jake Needham.