All-rounder Raine to return to Durham
Mon 3 Sep 2018
Leicestershire CCC has announced that Ben Raine will leave the club at the end of the 2018 season and return to Durham CCC, the county of his birth.
The club offered Raine an extension to the end of the 2020 season, but the all-rounder has requested to be released from the last year of his contract in order to move back to the north-east for personal reasons. Leicestershire CCC has reluctantly agreed to his early release.
Sunderland-born Raine made his Specsavers County Championship debut for Leicestershire CCC at Glamorgan CCC in 2013. He has scored 1,941 first-class runs for the club at an average of 21.09 and taken 201 wickets at 27.92. In white ball cricket, Raine made 935 runs at 21.74 and claimed 72 wickets at 32.04 apiece.
Raine was given his county cap ahead of the Vitality Blast fixture against Notts Outlaws in July. He will be available for selection for the remainder of the 2018 season.
He said: “The last six years at Leicester have been incredible. They took a gamble on me, invested time and effort into my game and life, and I will always be grateful for the opportunities I've been given by the club.
“The decision to move away from Grace Road was a tough one, but the opportunity to move back north, to be around family and friends and to play for the club I grew up supporting, was too good to miss.
“I want to thank the coaches, support staff and staff at the ground that have helped me with everything you could imagine since joining the club. Most importantly, thank you to every Fox I've ever shared the field with. I've been proud every time I've stepped out on the pitch because of the men I've had by my side.
“There were good times and some dark times, but never a dull moment. I am excited for the next stage of my career, at a great club, playing with blokes that I have grown up with.”
Leicestershire CCC Head Coach Paul Nixon said: “We are hugely disappointed to lose Rainey [Ben Raine] as his commitment and performances over the years have been immense. The club gave Ben his county cap earlier this season because he embodies exactly what it means to be a Fox.
“We made Ben a very good offer to stay, because he has been a key member of the squad and we dearly wanted him to continue his career with us. But the club understands that due to his personal circumstances changing, he wants to return and be closer to his family at his home near Durham.
“We know that he remains committed to supporting our push for promotion over the next four matches. Everyone at the club wishes Ben well with his new start at Durham.”
