Former Essex wicketkeeper Neil Burns has signed for Leicestershire.

Burns, 34, from Chelmsford, joined the Essex staff after being spotted turning in some good performances for Chelmsford Cricket Club.

However, with David East making the Essex first team wicketkeeping berth his own, Burns decided to try his luck away from his home county and joined Somerset.

Burns was at Somerset for eight seasons before the emergence of Rob Turner saw him dropped to the second eleven, where, as captain, he led Somerset to their first ever Second Eleven Championship success.

After retiring from the first class game, Burns became Director of Cricket at Minor Counties side, Buckinghamshire.

However, with Leicestershire wicketkeeper, Paul Nixon, having now left for Kent, Leicestershire head coach Jack Birkenshaw contacted Burns with a view to signing him on a one year contract, with a one year option.

Birkenshaw was aware of Burns' good record of standing up to top leg-spin bowling (he was in the same Somerset side as Pakistan's Mushtaq Ahmed), and with Indian Anil Kumble on the Leicestershire staff for the 2000 season, Birkenshaw was keen to sign Burns.

Leicestershire are, like Essex, playing in division one of the County Championship, and also division one of the National League.

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