Ben Mike returns to Leicestershire in search of regular cricket across all formats

The 25-year-old allrounder joined Yorkshire on a three-year contract last summer but found his red-ball opportunities limited, featuring just once in the County Championship in 2023

Ben Mike has returned to Leicestershire on a three-year contract after just one year at Yorkshire.

The 25-year-old rejected a contract offer to remain at Leicestershire in summer 2022, instead committing to three years at Headingley.

Speaking to The Cricketer last December, Yorkshire's managing director, Darren Gough, hailed Mike's potential: "We signed [him] purely on talent.

"It confused quite a few members why we signed someone like [him] but I can a little bit of coaching, Kabir Ali, a great bowler, and Ottis [Gibson], who's been England bowling coach twice – if we can't improve him to get him playing all formats, who's going to be able to do it?"

However, he struggled to break into Yorkshire's County Championship side, prompting his decision to return to Grace Road in search of regular red-ball cricket.

^{Mike featured regularly for Yorkshire across both white-ball competitions [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]}

Mike made just one first-class appearance for Yorkshire in 2023, scoring a run-a-ball 25 against his former side in September, but showed promise for the 2nd XI, scoring 365 runs at 33.18, including one century and three half-centuries, and taking 25 wickets at 22.68 in nine outings.

He enjoyed greater success with the white ball, taking 13 wickets in 11 T20 Blast appearances and a further seven wickets in five One-Day Cup matches.

Addressing Mike's exit, Gough, said: "Due to Ben not being able to break into the four-day side, he understandably wants to push on with his career and give himself the best chance to play all formats.

"The competition for places at Yorkshire has been tough with a big squad and Ben sees this as the best move for him now."

Mike made his professional debut for Leicestershire in June 2018 and went on to score 1,820 runs and take 118 wickets in 86 appearances.

In first-class cricket, he featured 34 times for the Foxes, scoring 1,178 runs at 23.56 and taking 78 wickets at 36.67.

^{Mike has returned to Leicestershire in search of regular matches across all formats [Bryn Lennon/Getty Images]}

"It's been an honour to represent Yorkshire, and I'm very thankful for the opportunity to have played for this great club," Mike said. "I had some honest conversations with the management and whilst they wanted me to stay, it felt right for my career to make the move back.

"I think I'll thrive under Alfonso [Thomas]. I spent a short time with him in 2022, but I'm looking forward to linking back up with him.

"I've learned a lot in my year away. I want to provide exciting moments and be a match-winner, but now is time for me to step up and put those performances in more consistently."

Leicestershire's director of cricket, Claude Henderson, added: "He brings an x-factor with both bat and ball in all three formats, which makes our squad really exciting for the coming seasons. He's the final jigsaw piece in our puzzle."