Ned Eckersley, a wicketkeeper-batsman and a former member of the MCC Groundstaff, joined Leicestershire in pre-season in 2011 and immediately made an impression in Second XI cricket, scoring more than 1,300 runs at that level in his first season.

In August of that year, shortly after his 22nd birthday, he was promoted to Leicestershire's Championship side for the last four matches of the summer and continued the upward curve, making a century against Middlesex at Grace Road in his seventh innings, having hit his maiden half-century against Gloucestershire in Bristol in his sixth. He then spent part of the close season playing for Mountaineers in Zimbabwe.

Back in England in 2012 he made more progress, scoring almost 1,000 runs for the senior Leicestershire side in all cricket, including more than 700 in first-class matches at 30.79. He demonstrated versatility at the crease, batting for more than six-and-a half hours for his career-best 137 not out against Glamorgan in Cardiff during a match-saving second-wicket stand of 245 in 88.4 overs with Michael Thornely, yet on another occasion hitting 72 from 44 balls to help Leicestershire beat Worcestershire in a 40-over match, including seven sixes.

ESPNcricinfo staff - February 2013