Ned Eckersley: Batsman signs new Leicestershire deal

Eckersley has scored 3,313 first-class runs since making his debut in 2011

Leicestershire batsman Ned Eckersley has signed a one-year contract extension with the club.

The 25-year-old was the club's leading scorer in the County Championship in 2013 with 1,275 runs and contributed another 818 in the 2014 season.

Eckersley's new deal comes after several players, including opener Greg Smith, chose to leave Grace Road.

"He is a quality top-order batsman who has a big role to play here," said director of cricket Phil Whitticase.

Leicestershire finished bottom of Division Two in 2014 and have failed to win in the County Championship for two full seasons.

Meanwhile, academy graduate batsman Aadil Ali has signed his first professional deal, having helped Leicestershire's second XI win the treble in the summer.