Niall O?Brien signs three-year deal with Leicestershire ? Cricket News Update
Prolific wicketkeeper batsman Niall O?Brien on Thursday completed his move from Northamptonshire to Leicestershire after signing a three-year deal at Grace Road.
The 30-year-old Ireland international ended his six-year-long association with Wantage Road after being told by the Northamptonshire management, at the end of 2012 season, that he was free to leave.
The Irish gloveman started his first-class career with Kent in April 2004, before moving to Wantage Road at the end of 2006 season. After spending six seasons with Northants, O?Brien was given a letter of thanks by the county management at the end of the recently concluded 2012 season.
His best season for Northants was 2008, when he was named as the club's player of the year for his impressive run with the bat, scoring 1,388 runs across all formats of the game. The wicketkeeper batsman had an average 2012 season, which saw him compiling 580 runs from 17 innings, at an average of 38.66, smashing one century and three half centuries.
Enthused about the next step in his career, O?Brien said that it was an easy decision to make. However, he admitted that he was sad at leaving Wantage Road.
?I had six great years here and I would happily have played out the rest of my career with Northamptonshire,? the Ireland cricketer said while speaking to media reporters after signing the three-year deal.
?I loved playing with the lads and I loved playing for Northamptonshire. In professional sport you have to make those hard-nosed decisions. But...there is plenty for me to be really positive about,? he added further.
Meanwhile, the Northants have also signed a contract with England Under-19 gloveman Ben Duckett until September 2015. The 18-year-old has been snapped up cover for Niall O?Brien to keep the wickets. Duckett will compete with David Murphy for a place behind the stumps.
The club also wished O?Brien very best wishes for his future endeavours at Grace Road.
?Chief executive David Smith wished to place on record the club's appreciation of Niall's six years' service at the club and wishes him every success in the future,? read a Northants statement.
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