Stephen Adshead

Adshead moved to Gloucestershire at the start of the 2004 season after a lack of first-team opportunities at Leicestershire and Worcestershire.

He began his time at Gloucestershire as Jack Russell's understudy but soon took over the gloves when former England wicketkeeper Russell retired halfway through the season.

Adshead enjoyed a good first season both with the bat and behind the stumps and has proved himself to be a worthy successor to Russell.

He continued his good form into 2005, where he scored 920 runs in first class cricket at an average of just under 31. He also took 40 catches and claimed six stumping victims.

The keeper had another solid season with the bat in 2006 and took 64 catches behind the stumps. His runs in Pro40 cricket played an important part in Gloucestershire’s Division Two title.

The emergence of Stephen Snell has seen Adshead revert to second choice keeper for championship games, although he featured in six Pro40 matches in 2008.

Despite a strong 2009, averaging over 40 in the championship and more than 50 in the Friends Provident Trophy, he was released at the end of the season.