Worcestershire sign Stephen Peters from Essex

Worcestershire have made Essex batsman Stephen Peters their third close-season recruit, signing him up on a three-year contract.

Peters, 23, who was in the England team which won the Under-19 World Cup in 1998, will join the former Leicestershire batsman Ben Smith and ex-Surrey off-spinner Gareth Batty at New Road.

Worcestershire's Director of Cricket, Tom Moody said: "Stephen is young and ambitious and plays his cricket in a positive manner, and we look forward to him adding depth to our middle-order batting."

Peters added: "Essex offered me a new contract, but I was so impressed with what Tom Moody is building at New Road that the move was a relatively easy decision to make."