County Cricket Round-Up - 19th October

19 October 2011

Rob Key will once again lead Kent next season despite presiding over a disastrous 2011 season.

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We take a look at the latest county news in our regular County Cricket Round-Up feature.

Somerset Director of Cricket Brian Rose has pledged that at least some of the £317,000 the club received for reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League will be used to strengthen the playing staff and improve the ground. He added that he was looking to sign one more ‘quality player’ before the start of the new season.

Business leaders in Birmingham have called for Warwickshire's home ground, Edgbaston, to be renamed as Birmingham Edgbaston.

A group of Essex committee members are hoping to force the county into a change of heart with regards to the scrapping of the Southend festival.

Simon Jones has signed a two-year contract with Glamorgan. It is expected that he will play only one-day cricket for the county.

Hampshire have confirmed that Neil McKenzie is likely to play a reduced role for them next season, possibly only playing as a Twenty20 specialist.

Northamptonshire have retained the services of wicket-keeper David Murphy and batsman Rob Newton on two-year contracts.

Gloucestershire seamer Liam Norwell has abandoned plans to play cricket in Australia this winter in order to concentrate on his recovery from a long-standing back injury.

Shahid Afridi has signed as Hampshire’s overseas player for the Friends Life t20 competition. He will join Simon Katich at The Rose Bowl.

Kent have re-appointed Rob Key as captain for the 2012 season.

Middlesex and England bowler Steven Finn has signed a contract to play a one-month stint with New Zealand side Otago Volts.

Worcestershire all-rounder Gareth Andrew and seamer Richard Jones are expected to play cricket overseas in the New Year as they limber up for another season in Division One.

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County Cricket

County Cricketers Abroad Part III

With many of England's county cricketers now heading home from their off-season destinations in time for Christmas, we take our monthly look at how they have been performing for their franchises or states so far in the 2011-12 season.

Pietersen To Stay With Surrey Indefinitely

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has extended his contract with Surrey until the end of his international career. Pietersen, who first signed for the club on a one-year deal in 2011 following a loan spell in 2010, will play for the Brown Caps until he no longer has an ECB Central Contract.

Woakes Extends Bears Contract

Warwickshire and England seam-bowler Chris Woakes has signed a new two-year deal with the county which will see him remain with the club until at least the end of the 2014 season.

Ben Harmison Signs Kent Deal

Kent have signed former Durham all-rounder Ben Harmsion on a contract of undisclosed length ahead of the 2012 season.

Tomlinson And Rossington Extend County Contracts

Middlesex wicket-keeper Adam Rossington and Hampshire seam bowler James Tomlinson have both signed contract extensions with their respective counties. Rossington, an 18 year-old who has represented England’s Under-19 side, has extended his existing contract by one year to the end of 2013, while Tomlinson has also signed until the end of the 2013 season.

Philander Signs For Somerset

Somerset have tentatively announced that they have secured the services of South African all-rounder Vernon Philander as their overseas player for the first two months of the 2012 season. Philander's availability is dependent on him not being selected to play in the Indian Premier League.