Derbyshire have re-signed New Zealand international Martin Guptill as their overseas player for the early stages of the 2015 campaign.
The 28-year-old became a popular figure at the 3aaa County Ground during two previous spells with the club, playing an integral role in Derbyshire’s 2012 LV= County Championship promotion-winning campaign.
Guptill featured in eight four-day matches in both 2011 and 2012, scoring 1,131 runs in total at an average of 43.50.
The opening batsman also starred in the limited-overs formats, hitting three centuries and the same amount of fifties in 23 appearances for the Falcons.
This time Guptill will be available for six championship matches, as Derbyshire aim to secure promotion back to the top flight, and three NatWest T20 Blast fixtures before he is expected to link up with New Zealand ahead of the one-day international leg of their tour of England.
Guptill, a member of New Zealand's World Cup squad, said: “I always wanted to go back to Derbyshire when the time was right. I get on great with the people and have lots of really good memories.
“Hopefully I can help my county make a quick start to the season to get them in the promotion mix again; and get the lads off to a flier in NatWest T20 Blast."
Guptill has a wealth of experience on the international stage, playing 31 Tests, 96 ODIs and 48 Twenty20s for the Black Caps to date.
The right-hander, predominantly used in limited-overs formats these days, showed his class during the Kiwis’ last tour of these shores in 2013.
He was the leading run-scorer in the three-match ODI series with 330, including a remarkable unbeaten 189 off just 155 deliveries at the Ageas Bowl, the highest format score by a New Zealand batsman.
#SIGNING: @Martyguptill returns to Derbyshire! Here's a few images from his career #P2bDhttp://t.co/WOsSTtqqPipic.twitter.com/eqJWfKAiDj
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) January 26, 2015
Derbyshire elite performance director Graeme Welch said: “Martin is a proven match-winner. He’s proved it for New Zealand and he’s done it a number of times for Derbyshire too, across all three forms of the game.
“We hope he can repeat the form of his last spell with the club. He’s probably an even better player now than the one that left when you look at what he did to England in 2013.
“He’ll fit well into our dressing room and into the culture we’re building. From what I’ve heard, he was a great example as a senior pro with the club back then and I’ll be looking for that from him again.
“He’ll help us get off to good starts in two competitions and starting well is really important.”