WICKETKEEPER Gareth Cross has signed for Derbyshire and goes straight into the first team for the LV County Championship Division Two match starting tomorrow at home to Kent.
Cross, released by Lancashire after 11 years, signs after the news that Derbyshire will be without both of their first-choice keepers for the foreseeable future.
Yesterday, they revelaed that the leg injuries suffered by Tom Poynton in the car accident which killed his father, Keith, last month will keep him out for the season.
Soon after that announcement came confirmation that the illness which has caused Richard Johnson to drop out of the squad is a stress-related issue.
Johnson remains unavailable for selection in order to focus on recovering from sports performance anxiety issues which caused him to miss the recent Championship match against Worcestershire.
"Richard Johnson is a talented cricketer who takes a really hardworking and professional approach to his cricket," said elite performance director Graeme Welch.
"However, cricket has to take a back seat for him now while he's given time and privacy to recover with full support and understanding from the club.
"The pressures faced by cricketers who are trying to be successful in a tough environment are well documented.
"All of the welfare programmes are in place to support Richard at this time."
Cross made his first-class debut for Lancashire in 2005 and played 62 first-class matches, hitting 2,196 runs, including three centuries.
The 29-year-old was a member of the Lancashire side who clinched Division One title in 2011, hitting 611 runs, including a career-best 125 against Sussex.
Released this year by Lancashire, he has been training and playing with Derbyshire seconds.
"Gareth is an experienced wicketkeeper-batsman and we are delighted to have him at the club," said Welch.
"It's testament to the relationships and contacts within our elite coaching structure that we managed to secure such a top signing when we needed it.
"He's a very good batsman who can score quickly.
"He's also very tidy with the gloves and his attitude during the trial period with our second team has been top draw."
Cross added: "This opportunity has come up and I have really enjoyed being around the lads.
"I'm really excited about getting started here at Derbyshire.
"I spoke to my former Lancashire teammate Stephen Moore before I signed and he said it's a really exciting time at the club.
"Now it's up to me to play well and to help the side win cricket matches in all three competitions."
Short-term loanee Dan Hodgson has returned to Yorkshire following one appearance.
Meanwhile, Welch has shaken up the Derbyshire batting for tomorrow's game following their disappointing start to the season.
Wes Durston, Chesney Hughes and Billy Godleman have all been dropped, to be replaced by Paul Borrington, Scott Elstone and Alex Hughes, who have all been in good form for the seconds.
Added to a squad of 12 is promising teenage seamer Tommy Taylor, who is on a summer contract after graduating from the academy, although he is expected to be the man to miss out.
SQUAD: Moore, Borrington, Madsen, Chanderpaul, Elstone, Hughes, Cross, Palladino, Wainwright, Groenewald, Footitt, Taylor.
