Nottinghamshire replace Gallian with Wood

Nottinghamshire have moved quickly to recruit Matthew Wood from Somerset as a replacement opener for Jason Gallian. Wood, 26, has joined on a three-year deal following Gallian's departure to Essex.

Wood is hoping for more regular first-team cricket than he found this year at Somerset - he played just two first-class matches before losing his place to Marcus Trescothick.

"It's been quite frustrating for me as there have been limited opportunities to play," Wood admitted, "and I can't wait for the challenge of moving to Trent Bridge. I'm signing for a club on the up, who are in Division One in both competitions and play at a Test venue."

Wood has scored 4375 first-class runs from 76 matches at an average of 34.72 with nine hundreds. His career-best of 297 came in a marathon nine-hour innings against Yorkshire at Taunton and helped him to 1000 runs in 2005.

Mick Newell, Notts' director of cricket, said: "Matthew is a quality player who has been unable to get into a very strong batting line-up. He's a nice lad, an intelligent cricketer and at the right kind of age to be able to play in all competitions for us."