Chambers agrees Northants switch

Northamptonshire have signed fast bowler Maurice Chambers on a two-year contract.

The deal represents something of a coup for the club. Chambers joined Warwickshire on loan at the end of August after Essex, his original club, made it clear that he no longer featured in their plans. But while Warwickshire also offered Chambers a deal, he has chosen to join recently promoted Northants instead.

Chambers impressed for Warwickshire. Having failed to hold down a place in the side of Division Two Essex, he claimed 14 wickets at an average of 27.36 in four Division One matches, including 5 for 68 on debut against Sussex, and scored a career-best 58 in the final match of the season against Derbyshire.

But despite his success at the club, Chambers reasoned he may have more opportunity at Northamptonshire. At full strength, the Warwickshire squad includes seamers Boyd Rankin, Chris Woakes, Chris Wright, Keith Barker and Rikki Clarke, all of whom have been included in England or England Lions squads in the last 12 months and all of whom would probably feature ahead of Chambers in selection. Aged 26, he is not at the stage of his career where he wants to play any more 2nd XI cricket.

The attraction for Northants is obvious. Chambers bowls at a sharp pace and was good enough to represent England U-19s before losing his way a little at Essex. With Northants unable to obtain a visa for Trent Copeland, their main overseas player in 2013, next year and having taken the decision to release fast bowler Luke Evans, their seam resources were looking a little thin ahead of their return to Division One cricket.