Guptill agrees return to Derbyshire

Martin Guptill will return to Derbyshire for the early part of next season ahead of New Zealand's tour to the UK. He will be available for the opening six County Championship matches and three T20s.

Guptill should have fond memories of Derbyshire having played for the county in 2011 and in 2012 being part of the side who won Division Two of the County Championship. He made 1131 first-class runs at 43.50 with three centuries.

"I always wanted to go back to Derbyshire when the time was right," Guptill said. "I get on great with the people and have lots of really good memories. Hopefully I can help my county make a quick start to the season to get them in the promotion mix again; and get the lads off to a flier in the T20 Blast."

Derbyshire elite performance director Graeme Welch said: "Martin is a proven match-winner. He's proved it for New Zealand and he's done it a number of times for Derbyshire too, across all three forms of the game. We hope he can repeat the form of his last spell with the Club.

"He's probably an even better player now than the one that left when you look at what he did to England in 2013. He'll fit well into our dressing room and into the culture we're building.

"From what I've heard, he was a great example as a senior pro with the Club back then and I'll be looking for that from him again. He'll help us get off to good starts in two competitions and starting well is really important."