Wright pulls out of Derbyshire contract

Damien Wright, the Australian fast bowler, has been forced to pull out of his contract with Derbyshire next season because of a knee injury.

Wright, who plays for Tasmania, will undergo surgery at the end of the Australian season, and could be out of action for up to nine months. "It's obviously disappointing because we planned the team around him, but we're not going to rush into replacing him," said Dave Houghton, Derbyshire's coach. "Whoever we get has got to be available for six months because we don't want to have to replace him mid-season."

Houghton added that he is looking for another bowling allrounder in the mould of Wright, and could look again at Australia for a replacement.