FALKLAND'S NEIL GUNTER OFFERED CONTRACT AT DERBYSHIRE

24 November 2001

Congratulations to Falkland and Berkshire all-rounder Neil Gunter who has signed a one year contract with first class county Derbyshire.

The 20 year old pace bowler and left hand bat was spotted by Derbyshire playing for MCC Young Cricketers against their second XI in the summer and was invited by the county for a three-day trial game which proved to be successful.

Neil will join their squad for pre-season training in April and hopes to force his way into the first team.

"The year at Derbyshire will hopefully be a great experience for me to learn from players like Dominic Cork and hopefully I can break into the first team and extend my stay there for a few more seasons" he said.

Gunter follows in the footsteps of his Falkland team mate, current Berkshire captain Julian Wood who also joined a first class county after a spell on the Lords Groundstaff.

Neil says that Wood has drawn on his first class experiences with Hampshire to give him some good advice.

"Julian has told me to go there, back my own ability, learn my trade and keep asking questions which is what I intend to do" he said.

Gunter's best bowling figures are 6-14 for Hampshire U-19s, and his top batting score is 120 for Berkshire U-19s against Wiltshire.

Gunter has been doing some coaching at the Berkshire Cricket Centre and is concentrating on recovering from a back injury in time for the 2002 season.

 

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