Leicestershire sign Surrey keeper Josh Blake on two-year deal

Leicestershire have signed wicketkeeper Josh Blake from Surrey on a two-year deal. BBC Sport

The 28-year-old is a specialist gloveman, the fielder behind the stumps in charge of catches, stumpings and constant chatter. He arrives one day after Leicestershire confirmed the departure of experienced keeper Ben Cox.

It is a short journey with a long backstory. Blake first joined Surrey at the age of nine. He later spent four years working as a community coach while pushing for a professional chance.

That chance came in 2022. Surrey handed him his first professional contract that year after four years as a triallist and coach in their system. He made his List A debut in 2022, List A being the official tag for senior one-day, limited-overs cricket.

First-class patience was needed. Blake waited until 2024 for his first County Championship appearance, the four-day competition that remains the core of the English county season. In total, he spent four years as a professional on Surrey’s books.

Blake called leaving Surrey a big decision and described Leicestershire as a new chapter. Surrey had earlier confirmed he would leave at the end of the 2026 season after signing a multi-year deal with another county. Surrey County Cricket Club

Away from the county staff, he has kept his game ticking over in club cricket. That has included the Surrey Championship and a stint in Sydney Shires cricket in Australia.

The timing matters for Leicestershire. Cox’s exit leaves gloves to fill. The club’s relegation from Division One is still subject to appeal against a points deduction, so the exact division Blake will keep wicket in next summer is not yet final.

For fans, this means a fresh start on both sides. Leicestershire get a keeper hungry for regular senior cricket after waiting his turn at a deep Surrey squad. Blake gets a clear shot at building a first-team rhythm.