Northamptonshire secure permanent signing of "natural leader" Lewis McManus

The wicketkeeper made the switch to Wantage Road on a loan deal at the beginning of the county campaign, as a replacement for Adam Rossington following the former captain's departure for Essex

Lewis McManus has completed a permanent move to Northamptonshire from Hampshire.

The wicketkeeper made the switch to Wantage Road on a loan deal at the beginning of the county campaign, as a replacement for Adam Rossington following the former captain's departure for Essex.

McManus has become an important part of the Northants dressing room over the course of the season in all formats, and ahead of the Royal London Cup has turned his temporary transfer into a two-year contract. He will remain with his new county until at least the end of the 2024 season.

"He's been brilliant, an absolute true professional, a top man and one hell of a cricketer," head coach John Sadler said.

^{Lewis McManus has joined Northamptonshire on a two-year contract [Getty Images]}

"The lads have got a lot of respect for him and he's going to play a big part for us moving forward.

"He's an open-minded character that wants to learn, and continually improve. We know how good he is, and we know that he’s just going to keep getting better".

McManus has made three half-centuries in first-class cricket for Northants, as well as a hundred in the Royal London Cup warmup fixture against Bedfordshire at the weekend.

LEWIS MCMANUS: CAREER STATS

First-class: 65 matches, 2,286 runs (ave 27.54), 1 100, 149 catches, 13 stumpings

List A: 37 matches, 563 runs (ave 23.45), 27 catches, 8 stumpings

T20: 75 matches, 725 runs (s/r 131.10), 37 catches, 16 stumpings 

Sadler described him as a "natural leader".

"Coming into a new dressing room it can be hard to be vocal. But he's grown and grown as he's settled in, and since it was announced he would be here for the full season then he's just become a natural leader behind the sticks," he said.

"We can't fault him, and we're just delighted to have him on board."

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