Nottinghamshire completed the signing of young Northamptonshire seamer Richard Logan today after he was recommended by two senior batsmen at Trent Bridge.

Logan impressed skipper Jason Gallian and opener Darren Bicknell when the two counties clashed in the County Championship at Northampton last season.

And when the 20-year-old turned down a new deal with the newly-promoted Division Two champions last year, Nottinghamshire moved in and offered him a two-year deal.

Assistant cricket manager Mick Newell said: "Both Darren and Jason liked the way he bowled and believed he would be capable of competing for a first-team slot with the other seamers in our squad straight away.

"We only have seven pace bowlers on our staff and with injuries commonplace among the quicks, Richard has a good chance of making a sizable contribution this season.

"He will meet up with team manager Clive Rice when we go out to South Africa on the pre-season trip and will no doubt be keen to make a big first impression."

Logan was delighted to make the move and said: "I felt it was time for a change and having a reputation for wickets that help seam bowlers, Trent Bridge was definitely the best place for me.

"I believe there's a better opportunity for me to play regular first-class cricket at Trent Bridge than there was at Northants and with so many good, young players coming through, Notts look like being a successful team in the future. I want to be a part of that."

Logan said playing regularly at a Test ground was another draw as were the county's excellent facilities and the chance of working with Clive Rice.

"I also know a couple of the players, having gone on the England Under-19 tour to South Africa with Paul Franks three years ago and played with Stephen Randall in the Under-17s," he said.

Logan was born in Staffordshire and worked his way through the county's youth ranks playing junior representative cricket up to Under-17 level.

He went to Northants on a scholarship in 1995 and signed a summer contract as a professional in 1996 while still at school.

He has since played Under-17 and Under-19 cricket for Northants, was a member of the England Under-19 World Cup winning squad in 1998, and made his Championship debut against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge last season.

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