Steve Adshead to join Herefordshire in Minor Counties

Steve Adshead is to return to Minor Counties cricket with Herefordshire

Former Gloucestershire wicketkeeper Steve Adshead is to return to Minor Counties cricket with Herefordshire for the 2010 season.

Herefordshire chairman Gwynne Jones fully expects the 30-year-old to return to first-class cricket.

"It does surprise me that clubs haven't gone for him but then I suppose they have money concerns," he said.

"They might just be waiting until the beginning of the season so they could have him for six months."

Adshead was released by Gloucestershire at the end of last season and was being linked with a return to Worcestershire but this came to nothing with the New Road club opting to put their faith in talented youngster Ben Cox.

Jones says they are delighted to have a player of Adshead's quality available to them.

"He was with us as a 17-year-old before he started his first-class career so it is nice to have him back again," he told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

"He will add a lot to the side with experience and his batting capabilities.

If he get the right offer then he will be off but we just hope we might have him for a season

Herefordshire chairman Gwynne Jones

"It gives us the opportunity to have a batsman-wicketkeeper so it gives us the option of playing another bowler," he added.

Herefordshire have also brought in former Shropshire captain James Ralph and talented young Birmingham League batsman Craig Wood.

But Ben Stebbings has left Herefordshire and is thought likely to link up with Oxfordshire, while Andy Sutton and Henry Langford have also asked to be released.

Jones feels the overall strength of the squad is looking good but he is well aware that Adshead could find his way back into the first-class game at some stage this summer.

The Herefordshire chairman says that were this to happen then Adshead would go with their blessing.

"We don't stand in anybody's way if that opportunity arises and we can't say no anyway," he said.

"If he get the right offer then he will be off but we just hope we might have him for a season."