Harris awarded Nottinghamshire benefit

Nottinghamshire have awarded AJ Harris a benefit year. Harris, 34, joined from Derbyshire in 2000 and helped them to the 2005 Championship with 47 wickets.

He said: "It's a great honour to have played for Notts for the past eight years and to be awarded a benefit is fantastic. The supporters and members of Notts have always been very kind to me - just as the Derbyshire fans were in my time with them - and I am looking forward to giving something back next season.

"It will be a big year for me and the club as we return to Division One. I'm very focused on having a good season and will be spending the winter working on getting fit and ready for action. I've already been fortunate enough to enjoy a decent career and firmly believe I can play on for another three or four seasons."

Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire's director of cricket, said: "This is a well-deserved benefit for the whole-hearted and dedicated service AJ has given us. He has always given 100 per cent for Derbyshire and Notts and played a major role for us when we won the Championship. I wish him all the best for next season and believe he still has a lot to offer us on the field for years to come."

Harris had an injury-hit season in 2007 but still helped the club win promotion in the Championship, as well as finish second in the Pro40. He has taken 406 first-class wickets in his career at an average of 31.32 and has twice passed 50 wickets in a season.

His name also appears in the record books: he became only the third man in history to be dismissed 'Timed Out' against Durham UCCE in 2003.