Jones agrees to lead Derbyshire

Dean Jones, the Australian Test batsman, will captain Derbyshire for the next two seasons after agreeing to sign up as their new overseas player.

The 34-year-old Jones, who has played 52 Tests, will take over from Kim Barnett, who left the job earlier this week after 13 years in charge.

"It's a worthwhile opportunity. Derbyshire have a pretty good attack and I reckon we might be able to be pretty competitive," Jones told an Australian newspaper yesterday.

Jones, who played in the County Championship with Durham in their maiden season in 1992, is currently the captain of Victoria, whose coach, Les Stilman, is expected to become Derbyshire's coach as part of the two-year package.

n The all-rounder Dipak Patel will miss New Zealand's tour of India next month with an Achilles tendon injury, and will be replaced by his Auckland team-mate, Mark Haslam.