Nottinghamshire seamer Mark Footitt has signed a new one-year deal at Trent Bridge, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2009 season.

Warwickshire's Jonathan Trott has withdrawn from the England Performance Programme squad to tour India as he needs a break from cricket.

Surrey head groundsman Bill Gordon has won his sixth straight groundsman of the year award after taking this year’s title.

Kent have appointed former chairman Carl Openshaw as their president for 2009.

Explosive South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs has agreed to rejoin Glamorgan next season, following a successful stint in the Twenty20 Cup.

LV County Champions Durham have signed former England all-rounder Ian Blackwell on a three-year deal from Division One rivals Somerset.

Barely a year after languishing in the wilderness of second team cricket, Derbyshire all-rounder Jonathan Clare will join the best young fast bowlers in the land at the ECB Bowling Skills Set.

For most people, the chance to swap a grey and miserable England for four weeks in sun-drenched Florida sounds perfect. Six young fast bowlers, however, are approaching the trip with trepidation.

As the season of 2008 draws to a close, the Performance Lifestyle Advisers have been out and about working with the players and assisting them with their plans for the winter.

Gloucestershire received a visit from local MP Stephen Williams to see the new pitch drainage system at Bristol.

Australia leg-spin legend Shane Warne gave coaches at Kent's academy the benefit of his experience when he led a coaching master-class at the St Lawrence Ground.

Lancashire have added a quartet of players to their 2008/09 academy intake, with a further four youngsters still being assessed.

John Bracewell’s impending return to Bristol is a much-needed shot in the arm for Gloucestershire, admits batsman and 2009 beneficiary Chris Taylor.

New captain Will Smith is keen to build on Dale Benkenstein’s admirable legacy when he launches Durham's LV County Championship title defence.

LV County Champions Durham have announced Will Smith has taken over the captaincy from Dale Benkenstein, who recommended him.

Former Leicestershire batsman John Maunders has signed a contract for 2009 with Essex.

Glamorgan have adopted a zero tolerance policy for ticket touts ahead of the first Test of the 2009 npower Ashes Test series.

Martin Bodenham hopes his experiences as a leading football referee will help him when he embarks on life as a professional umpire.

Durham have agreed a deal for overseas player Shivnarine Chanderpaul to return to the Riverside next season. Many of his team-mates have also committed their future to the county champions.

Surrey have announced they will not renew contracts for seamer Neil Saker and opening batsman Richard Clinton.