Spriegel moves to Northants

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Northamptonshire have signed Matthew Spriegel, the off-spinning all-rounder who played a key role in Surrey’s Clydesdale Bank 40 title last year.

The 25-year-old, an adept left-handed batsman, has decided to join Northants in search of regular first-team cricket in all forms of the game.

He played in every match of Surrey’s 2011 CB40 campaign, scoring 424 runs at an average of 53 and taking 11 wickets at just over 27.

“I’ve played two championship games here for the last two years and I need to be playing four-day cricket, and that’s is something Northants have offered me,” Spriegel told surreycricket.com.

“They’re a club keen to go places and looking to improve their white-ball cricket as well. And they’ve really impressed me with the way they’ve gone about things since I started speaking to them.”

Spriegel first represented Surrey at under-nine level and worked his way through every age group before making his championship debut against Somerset at Whitgift, his old school, in 2008.

Matthew Spriegel celebrates hitting the winning runs as Surrey beat Somerset in last year's Clydesdale Bank 40 final at Lord's

That year he also earned List A and Twenty20 bows, the first of 61 and 45 respective format appearances. However, he has played in only 29 first-class games.

Northants head coach David Ripley said: "We are delighted that Matthew had decided to join Northants, as he is exactly the type of multi-dimensional cricketer we have been looking to attract to the club.

“Matthew has shown a real hunger to improve himself in all formats and will give us some excellent options with both bat and ball in the short and longer form of the game."

Chief executive David Smith added: "It is no secret that our white ball cricket performances over the last 18 months have fallen below both the club and supporter's expectations and I am sure Matthew will assist us in our efforts to re-establish a competitive team in this form of the game.

“He was an integral part of the Surrey's Clydesdale Bank 40-over winning team at Lord’s in 2011, so brings trophy-winning experience to the club."

Surrey team director Chris Adams said: “Matthew has been a fine servant of Surrey and leaves the club with our best regards and good wishes for the future.

“I fully understand what Northamptonshire are able to offer to him and, whilst it is sad to see such a talented cricketer go, I strongly hope he is able to achieve his full potential with them in the years to come.”

Meanwhile, Northants have revealed they are hoping to sign at least one more player in the coming weeks.

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