Groenewald leaves Edgbaston for Derby

Tim Groenewald has left Warwickshire to bolster Derbyshire's squad for the 2009 season.

Groenewald, 24 - a South African who is England-qualified - left Warwickshire by mutual consent, and his addition to the Derbyshire squad was met with excited anticipation by their head of cricket, John Morris.

"I am delighted to have added to our squad with a talented cricketer who, like Garry Park, is of a good age with plenty of improvement left in him," Morris said. "Tim is an ambitious cricketer who adds depth to our seam attack as well as being a dynamic talent with the bat. He is an excellent addition to our squad as we look forward to the 2009 season."

A big-hitting batsman and fast-medium bowler, Groenewald posted a career-best first-class score of 78 against Bangladesh A in July and his best bowling performance to date (5 for 24) came against Cambridge in May.

"We fully understand that Tim is keen to make his mark in the game and he has been disappointed not to get more first-team cricket so it would be wrong of us to stand in his way at this stage of his career if he can get greater opportunities elsewhere," said Ashley Giles, Warwickshire's director of cricket. "We all join in wishing him well for his future with Derbyshire and a successful cricket career."