Morgan commits to Middlesex

Middlesex County Cricket Club (13/2 to win County Championship Division One 2013 with bet365) have received a massive boost with the news that Eoin Morgan has agreed a new long-term contract with the club.

The 26-year-old England batsman is an established international in the one-day and Twenty20 side and has been part of the Middlesex set-up at Lord’s for close to a decade.

Morgan, who has battled himself into the reckoning for the England Test side and is part of the squad currently touring India (England 4/1 to win Test series with bet365), was awarded an ECB central contract for 2013 and also plays for Indian Premier League for reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders.

Now established as one of the best batsmen in the world, he offers a huge boost to Middlesex whenever he is available to them and the club are understandably delighted he has put pen-to-paper on the new deal.

Middlesex’s chief executive Vinny Codrington said: “With the exceptional talent he possesses Eoin is quite rightly regarded as one of the most gifted batsmen in world cricket today, and we are delighted that we can continue to call upon his services whenever he is available to us here at Middlesex.”

Morgan’s agreement to a new contract comes closely on the heels of Middlesex announcing that Chris Rogers will continue to captain them in the County Championship next season – they finished third in Division One last season.

Derbyshire reward Masden with new deal

Derbyshire have rewarded captain Wayne Masden for leading his side to the LV= County Championship Division Two title by handing him a new three-year deal to tie him to the club until the end of 2015 (Derbyshire – 20/1 County Championship Div One 2013 Outright).

Masden enjoyed a fine season for the county and helped them to their first trophy since 1993.

Derbyshire have made it clear they want him to lead the team in the top flight next term, where they will face stiffer competition from the likes of champions Warwickshire (10/3 Outright) and Somerset (5/1) and they have announced the 28-year-old has penned a new, extended contract.

Madsen was also Derbyshire’s leading run-scorer with 885 last season, with an average of 38.47 and recorded his career-best score of 231 not out against Northamptonshire.

Masden was delighted to stay on and is now looking forward to the future.

“What we achieved last year was incredible and this is a club that’s growing and moving in the right direction on and off the field,” he said.

“To lead this squad is a great honour, I’m so excited about where we are heading and we’re looking forward to challenging ourselves in Division One next season.”

Head coach Karl Krikken is a big fan of Masden, both on the pitch with the bat and also in the dressing room. He added: “The way he has led the side this season, in his first year in the job, has been absolutely magnificent.

“He’s got a great captaincy style and the example he sets the younger players in terms of his work ethic is fantastic. I’m delighted we’re continuing to work together to keep taking the club forward.”

Changes afoot at Yorkshire

Yorkshire have announced a new coaching set-up for 2012 as they look to bounce back after their shock relegation to County Championship Division Two (Yorkshire 7/2 To Win Outright with bet365).

The existing coaching team at Headingley was broken up after the Tykes relegation, with Craig White, Steve Oldham, Kevin Sharp and John Blain all exiting.

Now the club have confirmed Jason Gillespie as their new first-team coach, with the 36-year-old returning to a county he played for in 2006 and 2007.

Gillespie will work alongside skipper Andrew Gale under director of cricket Martyn Moxon, while Paul Farbrace, Ian Dews and Richard Damms also have important roles as part of the new set-up, and the Aussie is hoping for big things at Yorkshire.

“Yorkshire underachieved last year and I’m sure everyone is disappointed, but what that does now is create an opportunity for this group of players to show how good they are,” Gillespie said.

“I’ll be really pushing for result cricket and I?m willing to risk a loss in order to win games. I believe that this Yorkshire squad is capable of winning a lot of cricket matches.”

In addition to the new coaching changes, Yorkshire have also confirmed Australia (11/4 Ashes Series 2013 with bet365) batsman Phil Jaques as an overseas player for the next two seasons.

The opener scored 2,477 runs for Yorkshire at an average 61.92 during a previous spell in 2004 and 2005 and has been signed to spearhead their drive to get back into County Championship Division One.

Surrey net Pietersen

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has signed a playing contract for Surrey (7/2 to win County Championship Div 2 with Stan James) to play at the Brit Oval until September 2011.

The South Africa-born cricketer spent the closing of last season at the county after stating his plans to leave Hampshire.

Pietersen, 30, is currently with the rest of the England squad Down Under preparing for the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.

He has struggled to rediscover his previous scoring best and has not got a Test century since March 2009 (Pietersen 7/1 to be top Ashes series run scorer with Stan James).

The batsman’s deal will run concurrently with his England central contract, and Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon has already claimed the county have been in touch in an effort to ensure Pietersen plays as much as possible for Surrey.

“I’m delighted to be playing for Surrey next season, as I really enjoyed my time with them at the end of this year,” said Pietersen.

“I hope I can get some games in over the summer and spend time at this great club, meeting more of the staff and supporters.”