David Sales signs new Northants contract after club U-turn

Former Northants captain David Sales has signed a new one-year contract, a month after being told he could speak to other clubs.

The club initially decided not to offer him a new deal but a change of heart has enabled the 34-year-old, who made his debut at the age of 16, to stay.

He said: "I am obviously delighted to continue my association with Northants.

"I believe we can push on to bigger and better things next season and into the future."

He has scored more than 21,000 runs in all forms of the game and captained the team from 2004 to 2007, but his career has been interrupted by a number of injuries.

Sales suffered a serious knee problem during an England A tour to the West Indies early in 2001 which cost him the chance of a Test cap in the Ashes series against Australia that summer.

He also had to sit out the entire 2009 season following knee surgery and missed part of the current campaign after tearing a hamstring.

Concerns about his physical well-being were what prompted the club to delay offering a new contract but head coach David Ripley said: "It's great that David has shown great form and fitness over the second half of the season.

"David is a quality senior professional in the dressing room who can contribute in all forms of the game."

Meanwhile, Northants have confirmed batsman Alex Wakely as vice-captain after standing in for skipper Andrew Hall in some games this summer.

"Everyone at the County Ground can see Alex's potential as a future captain of Northants Cricket, and we are delighted he has accepted this role," chief executive David Smith commented.