Cotton leaves Derbyshire by mutual consent

Cotton played 20 first-class matches for Derbyshire after signing his first professional deal in 2014, claiming 37 wickets with the red ball

^{Ben Cotton has left Derbyshire}

Derbyshire have parted company with seamer Ben Cotton.

The 24-year-old, who was in the final year of his contract with the county, leaves by mutual consent and is now available to pursue other options.

Cotton played 20 first-class matches for Derbyshire after signing his first professional deal in 2014, claiming 37 wickets with the red ball.

He added 52 victims in limited overs cricket.

Kim Barnett - Derbyshire's cricket advisory director - said: “Ben has shown that at his best he can take wickets and he has done this on a number of occasions, especially in limited-overs matches for Derbyshire.

“But with opportunities likely to be limited this year, we felt that it would be best for both parties that Ben should be able to pursue his career elsewhere. We wish him good luck for the future.”

^{Cotton signed his first pro deal at Derbyshire in 2014}