Barnett's rebuilding begins with Reece

Derbyshire have signed Luis Reece, the top-order Lancashire batsman, on a two-year deal.

He becomes the first signing since Kim Barnett's appointment as director of cricket came with the avowed intent to switch some expenditure away from coaches to strengthen the playing staff.

Reece was named as Lancashire's young player of the year in 2013 as they secured promotion to Division One, hitting 722 runs at an average of 55, but he struggled to adjust to the standards of Division One and was affected by injury.

He gradually fell from favour as the likes of Haseeb Hameed gained prominence.

During a four-year stint with Lancashire, he made 30 appearances across all three formats, scoring 1,235 runs at an average of 31. He also offers a left-arm option with the ball and has taken 22 wickets at senior level.

Barnett said: "Luis is a very talented batsman, in both red and white ball cricket, and is also an improving left-arm seam bowler.

"He had limited opportunities at Lancashire over the last few seasons, mainly due to injury, but when called upon he performed to a high level and shown his abilities.

"This is a fresh start for Luis and provides him with a chance to show us what he can do. He will further strengthen our line-up and provide us with another option at the top of the order."

Reece, 26, said: "I'm grateful to Derbyshire for providing me with this opportunity. Speaking to the Club, they have exciting ambitions for the years ahead and I can't wait to get started."

Derbyshire have some ground to make up. They finished bottom in Division Two of the Championship without a win and failed to progress in both limited-overs competitions.

Born in Taunton, Reece first played for Lancashire Second XI in 2007 at the age of 17, and was offered a place on the Red Rose Academy in the following year. He was however, not initially offered professional terms at Lancashire, and moved to university in Leeds where his cricket career began to pick up pace.

Most notably, he claimed 7 for 21 against Sussex, and at one stage had the incredible figures of 5 for from five overs. His batting form in 2013 saw him narrowly miss out on a place on the England Performance Programme. He began 2014 with great optimism, representing MCC in the Champion County match in Abu Dhabi, but injury - including a broken hand when he thumped a dressing room door during a difficult personal period - and poor form intervened and he was released by Lancashire at the end of the 2016 season.