Procter’s ‘hunger’ impresses Northants
BATSMAN Luke Procter has made his loan move to Northants permanent, signing a three-year deal with the county having departed Lancashire.
Procter, 29, had spent the entirety of his career with the Red Rose having graduated from the Old Trafford Academy to earn his first contract in 2010.
He topped the batting averages for Lancashire when they claimed the County Championship in 2011 and went on to make 66 first-class appearances for the county.
He found opportunities limited this season, however, despite making 822 runs in 2016, and went to Wantage Road on loan, where he shone with 82 and 94 in the county’s final Championship match against Leicestershire at Grace Road.
Procter said: “I’m really excited to have the opportunity to play for a club like Northamptonshire. They really impressed me at the end of last season while I was on loan and the lads have made me feel really welcome and part of the team.
“I’m eager to impress moving forward so I’m excited to join up with them all this winter, put in some hard work and begin the next chapter of my career.
“I would like to thank Lancashire and the supporters for the past nine years. I’ve had an incredible time and made some great friends.”
Northants head coach, David Ripley, added: “We really wanted to sign a batter that can bat time and build partnerships in red-ball cricket. Luke showed in his time with us at the end of the season that he can do that job, averaging 58 and making three 50s.
“I am delighted he is joining us, he could have stayed in the squad at Lancashire but he is hungry to play more cricket and is willing to move to get the opportunity.
“He is a more than handy fourth seamer, too, and his arrival will really sharpen the competition in the squad for starting places.”