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 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Leicestershire-c807 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 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Northamptonshire-c824 management, at the end of 2012 season, that he was free to leave.
The Irish gloveman started his first-class career with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kent-c802 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 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751 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 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/David-Murphy-c53110 for a place behind
the stumps.
The club also wished O’Brien very best wishes for his future endeavours at Grace Road.
“Chief executive http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Alfred-Ernest-David-Smith-c43363 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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