ACKERMANN SIGNS WITH LEICESTERSHIRE

Leicestershire have turned to South Africa to bolster their batting strength, signing batsman Colin Ackermann on a two-year contract. The signing will encourage the belief that English counties are eager to raid South African players who suspect their chances of progression may be limited in their own country because of stiffened transformation policies. Ackermann, a former South Africa U-19 international, will qualify as a non-overseas player. He has a first-class record approaching 40, the latest of seven hundreds coming for Warriors against the Multiply Titans last week. He also has 10 half-centuries in the two limited-overs formats. Leicestershire's head coach Pierre de Bruyn, a fellow South African, said: "Colin is a quality top order batsman who can also bowl some...