FORMER Drakes Huddersfield League player Oliver Hannon-Dalby has left Yorkshire to sign for county champions Warwickshire.

The 23-year-old, born in Halifax, played with Kirkburton in 2005 and 2006, and has recently been training with the Bears, having being given permission to look for a new team.

He was entering the last year of his contract with the Tykes and will officially complete his move on March 1.

He was only 16 when he began playing with the Riley Lane club, and took just 25 wickets in his first season (his best return a four for 43 against Lascelles Hall), while his appearance were limited the following year due to playing with Yorkshire’s Academy.

Yorkshire’s director of cricket Martyn Moxon said: “As opportunities for Oliver to play first 11 cricket at Yorkshire this season are likely to be limited and given the fact that he was entering the final year of his contract, it was agreed that we would allow him to explore potential options elsewhere.

“With that in mind, he has spent the last few weeks training at Warwickshire and although I have some sadness that Oliver is leaving us, I am delighted that he is being given an opportunity to further his career.

“He has been a pleasure to work with and I would like to thank him for his contribution to the club. I wish him every success in the future.”

Hannon-Dalby played 24 first-class matches for Yorkshire, taking 43 wickets at 45.06, with two five-wicket hauls.

However, Warwickshire are unlikely to see their batting boosted by the arrival of the 6ft 8in beanpole seamer, though, with a career haul of just 45 runs in 25 innings!.