Horton excited about new chapter

Leicestershire’s players are back for the start of their winter programme next Monday (November 9) including new signing Paul Horton.

The 33-year-old is relishing the opportunity to be part of something completely different as he writes a new chapter in his career at Leicestershire County Cricket Club.

Horton enjoyed a long and successful spell at Lancashire and has made a move in county cricket for the first time.

The batsman brings a wealth of experience to Grace Road having racked up more than 9,500 first-class runs since making his debut in 2003, an impressive figure that includes 21 centuries.

He will now be transferring those skills into a new environment and Leicestershire will benefit from Horton’s vast knowledge of English conditions at the top of the order.

“I think it’s a good time for me to be taking on a new challenge and I’m joining a club that is looking to move forward,” said Horton. “I know that Leicestershire has been a powerhouse in county cricket in the past and having met Wasim Khan and Andrew McDonald, I know they are looking to bring back those days.

“Wasim and Andrew presented an exciting vision for the club and it is exciting to get the chance to be a part of it. Their initial task has been to rebuild things but the future is bright - who knows where we can go in the next few years.

“The people I have dealt with at the club have all been really friendly and there is a family feel to the place. Getting to know a new changing room in county cricket will be something new to me but I do have experience of different dressing room cultures around the world.

“You always get an interesting mix in sport because people can range from 18 years of age up to 40 with different personalities. You get people at different ages and stages of life and although I don’t know everybody at Leicestershire yet, there seems to be a similar mix to Lancashire with senior players and youngsters.

“I’ll be working with new players and new coaches in a different environment but I am looking forward to it. There have been some connections as Wayne White was a roommate of mine at Lancashire, I have spoken to Nathan Buck, and I know Niall O’Brien from him standing up to the stumps many times in the past!”

Horton’s first challenge will be to get himself acquainted with the county after moving down from the north west, a region he has lived since joining Lancashire as a teenager.

The batsman will complete his winter programme at Grace Road to prepare himself for the official start of pre-season in March. That will be a key phase for the club when the entire first team squad comes together and Horton is already planning for that time.  

He said: “I’ve played against Leicestershire in T20 at Grace Road several times and also played a couple of first-class games here too. From travelling around the country I think the club has the best outdoor net wickets for batting and also good wickets in the middle.

 “My main plans over the winter are to relocate and get myself settled in during the next four months so that I am fully ready for the start of the official pre-season. I’ll be training with the lads during those months and getting to know everyone who is here before the whole group gets together.

“You can naturally become a senior player in terms of age alone but that is not the way I am looking at it. You have to help out so that your experience can supplement all of the younger players in the squad.

“The first thing I am looking at is forming an influential opening partnership with Angus Robson, who I know is a fine player. It would be great if we can form a formidable partnership at the top of the order in first-class cricket.”

Horton has an impressive record in all three formats of the game and is keen to make his mark across the board. The batsman has amassed 13,512 runs in the professional game and will form part of a batting line-up that now has plenty of competition for places in the LV=County Championship, Royal London One Day Cup and NatWest T20 Blast.

Neil Dexter and Mark Pettini have joined Horton in signing three-year deals at Grace Road while Kevin O’Brien (T20 and RLODC) and Umar Akmal (T20) will further strengthen the club’s batting in white ball cricket.

When you add Mark Cosgrove and Niall O’Brien into the mix, consider the progress that Angus Robson, Ned Eckersley, Aadil Ali, Lewis Hill and Michael Burgess have made in recent times, and see the batting depth that the bowlers provide, then things are looking highly encouraging ahead of the 2016 campaign.

Horton said: “As a player you look to play in every game and although that is not always possible because of the demands of the schedule, that is always the aim. I will set out wanting to play a major role in all three formats.

“Clint McKay and Charlie Shreck have done a wonderful job with the bowlers but the club has acknowledged that the batting has lacked a bit of experience, so that’s why I have come in alongside Neil Dexter and Mark Pettini.

“There is more competition for places which is something that may have been lacking in previous years. The club is in a good position, especially having good young batsmen like Angus Robson, Ned Eckersley and Aadil Ali around the senior players. It will be a lot harder to get into the First XI and that can only be healthy for the club.

“International experience is always great and Kevin and Umar have plenty of that, so they will add a different dynamic to our side on a Friday night. I think it’s a really exciting time for the club and I’m really looking forward to being a part of it.”