Cricket: Wright drives county policy

Martin Guptill's signing with Derbyshire last week indicates a policy push from New Zealand Cricket to get more players - especially batsmen - involved in the English county first-class championship.

Black Caps coach John Wright is at the heart of the move. Derbyshire is Wright's former county (1977-1988) and he gets on well with the head of cricket John Morris, a former teammate. Morris is better known as David Gower's co-pilot during the ill-fated flight over the ground during England's tour match on the 1990-91 Ashes tour, for which he was reprimanded.

New Zealand Cricket hopes to form a long term alliance, even if Derbyshire won just three games to finish bottom of the nine-team second division last year. NZC want a winter training ground so players avoid hibernating in indoor nets at home.

"We're keen to see our up-and-coming batsmen get as much experience as possible in county cricket," says NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan. "We've also been in discussions with other counties like Gloucestershire [who were fifth in the second division under former Black Caps coach John Bracewell].

"A number of counties are not doing well financially; we're hoping players not in the top tier yet like Martin, Daniel Flynn, BJ Watling and Kane Williamson are more affordable.

"It is a conscious plan, driven by John to get them English experience. Look how it worked for the Australians who have done it over the years; the likes of Simon Katich, Michael Hussey, Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden."

In other English county news, Daniel Vettori is considering taking his family for a stint with Hampshire next year while Kyle Mills is competing against Australian right-armer Peter Siddle and South African left-armer Lonwabo Tsotsobe for a spot at Essex. James Franklin will not be re-signing with Gloucestershire.

Vettori has been offered a package to play for a month (maximum of five games) in the new Sri Lankan Twenty20 league. It is expected to run from late July. Vettori is likely to sign this week.

Singapore-based company Somerset Entertainment Ventures has the rights to the competition for five years. Players sign to the league and are distributed into one of the five teams. Of the other Kiwis approached, Jacob Oram is likely to sign while Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum are expected to decline.

New Zealand Twenty20 bowler Adam Milne has been approached by the Dolphins franchise from South Africa to see if he can fill in during the final stages of their domestic Twenty20 league in February-March. The Proteas' best players will be at the World Cup.

Central Districts are understood to be considering the move but are conscious of possible burn-out.