Leicestershire have turned to South Africa to boost their batting power, signing batsman Colin Ackermann on a two-year contract.

The top-order batsman, who is currently playing for the Warriors, has played 63 first-class matches, scoring 3 917 runs including seven centuries and 28 fifties for his franchise.

Leicestershire’s head coach Pierre de Bruyn, a fellow South African, said: ‘Colin is a quality top order batsman who can also bowl some useful off-spin, and he will offer us a good option in all three formats of the game. He will provide us with further competition for places.’

He follows in the footsteps of Cameron Delport and Proteas batsman Farhaan Behardien, who played in the shorter formats for them last season, as Leicestershire look to cash in on South Africans who see their opportunities limited in their own country.

Ackermann has scored 227 runs in two matches in this years Sunfoil series so far and is currently in action action for the Warriors.

Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images