Cork going nowhere

Cork aims to put Derbyshire back on their feet

Dominic Cork has ended speculation about a possible move away from struggling Derbyshire by agreeing to extend his contract with the county.

The England all-rounder will stay on as captain next summer and has committed himself to the club until the end of the 2004 season.

Derbyshire are currently bottom of both the County Championship and one-day Norwich Union League.

And Cork has endured a miserable time at international level, having suffered a serious back problem in Pakistan last year and then been dropped by England during the Ashes series against Australia.

I am aware there has been a lot of speculation and that I have been criticised for not giving an immediate response

Dominic Cork

He was not included in the winter tour party to travel to India and New Zealand.

"I am still ambitious to play for England, but realistically I have to accept that I am not going to be contracted next season.

"That is likely to mean that I am able to play for Derbyshire a lot more than has been the case in the last two seasons," he explained.

Cork said he took "full responsbility for Derbyshire's plight on the field.

"I apologise to the members of Derbyshire for what we have put them through in the last couple of seasons."