Josh Cobb leaves Leicestershire for Northants

Cobb has scored 803 County Championship runs this year

Northants have signed Leicestershire one-day captain Josh Cobb on a two-year deal with the option of a further year.

The batsman, 24, will leave Division Two's bottom side to join a team relegated from Division One.

He has 3,133 first-class runs for his hometown club and captained them this year when Ramnaresh Sarwan was absent.

"Northamptonshire have proven that they are a winning limited-overs team and have set clear targets to get back into Division One next year," he said.

"I want to be a part of this and after talking to the management, who I know well, I'm convinced it's the right place for me to achieve my goals."

Cobb made his Leicestershire debut in 2007 and has played 77 first-class matches, and he also proved himself as a capable player in the shorter formats, averaging 36.94 in one-dayers and 21.18 in T20s.

He has averaged 34.91 in this season's County Championship.

"I want to firstly thank Leicestershire and all the fans for all they have done for me. Captaining my boyhood team was an honour and something I will always cherish," he said.

"But I feel it's now time to start a new chapter and challenge myself to improve in a new environment."

Northants chief executive David Smith added: "I know Josh well, he will bring a real cutting edge to our white ball cricket, having already scored five hundreds in this format.

"He has also had a very good Championship season this year and also brings invaluable captaincy experience, having undertaken this role for the past two years. At 24 years of age, his best cricket is still ahead of him."