Coach Ripley says Brandon Glover is looking 'at the bigger picture' by signing for Northants

The 23-year-old Netherlands international put pen to paper on a three-year deal at Wantage Road last month.

Born in South Africa, Glover has opted to go down the route of being a Kolpak player to build a career in England, and it has emerged he was a man in demand.

But the fact that he is good friends with County batsman Ricardo Vasconcelos, and that he has worked with bowling coach Chris Liddle, saw him opt for Northants.

And Ripley believes the fact the player is looking at ‘the bigger picture’ can only be good news for the County.

“We have a lot of depth in the seam bowling, and the signing of Brandon was an opportunity that arose,” said Ripley.

“To be fair to the board, they have nudged past the number planned to try and get Brandon in a year earlier than we might have planned to.

"We wanted him as he is a player we have liked, and we have been watching him and tracking him.

“With the whole Brexit thing, and Brandon making the decision that he wanted to leave (SA cricket) and go Kolpak, and then Chris has just worked with him in the winter with the Holland team.

"Ricardo is also one of his best friends, so we kind of had an in, and he turned down a more lucrative offer from somebody else to join us.

“I think that is a sign that he has taken a look at the bigger picture rather than it just being about finance, and we are obviously delighted that he has chosen us.”

Glover, who is set to play for Holland in the T20 World Cup in Australia in October, has undergone a minor operation to ‘clear out his ankle’, but will be fit to play a full part the scheduled pre-season training camp in Singapore next month.

.