Dexter leaves Middlesex for Leicestershire

Middlesex all-rounder Neil Dexter has signed a three-year deal with Leicestershire.

The 31-year-old has spent the last seven seasons at Lord’s, after moving from Kent in 2009, and captained the club between 2010 and 2013, leading them to the Division Two title in 2011.

He has scored almost 6,000 runs and taken 98 wickets in his first-class career, which included a brief spell on loan with Essex.

Although he has generally struggled this season, Dexter’s form has improved recently, scoring 112, 53 and 43 in his last three County Championship innings.

His best score for Middlesex was 163 not out, made against Northamptonshire last May, and earlier this year, he hit six sixes in an over playing for the Middlesex second team.

Angus Fraser, Middlesex’s director of cricket, said: “Neil is at an age and stage in his career where he needs to play regular first XI cricket and have a prominent role in that side.

“Unfortunately Middlesex could not guarantee this moving forward, so I fully understand and respect Neil’s decision to look for a fresh challenge elsewhere.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working closely with Neil. He is a good man who possesses the characteristics I like to see in a person. He is a good cricketer too.”