Boje set for Northants return

LONDON:

Nicky Boje, the former South Africa spinner, is set to return to Northamptonshire next season after agreeing a two-year deal, the English county has announced.

The 34-year-old left-armer, who spent a month at Wantage Road last year, said in a statement on Monday: "I really enjoyed my time at the club last summer and found some form in all aspects of the game," he said.

"I was easily persuaded by the club to make the move on a longer-term basis and look forward to being a part of a very strong squad in 2008."

Northamptonshire have a left-arm spinner in Monty Panesar but likely Test calls mean the England international is set to be unavailable for large chunks of the 2008 domestic season.

Boje played 43 Tests from 2003 to 2006, taking exactly 100 wickets at an average of nearly 43 apiece before quitting international cricket last year.