THE old tradition of North- East cricketers signing for Northamptonshire has been revived with Luke Evans’ decision to join the Midlanders.

A day after saying he was leaving Durham to pursue opportunities elsewhere, the 6ft 7in seamer confirmed that he is returning to the county where he spent a short spell on loan this year.

Evans, from Sunderland, has signed a two-year deal, while Durham also confirmed that they have handed the same length of contract to West Indian paceman Ruel Brathwaite.

Northants have also recruited Sri Lankan Chaminda Vaas for 2011 following his impressive exploits for them in Twenty20 cricket last season.

In the first game of his loan spell, Evans took career-best figures of three for 53 in the second innings against Gloucestershire.

“This is a very exciting time for me,” he said. “Over the last few seasons at Durham, there hasn’t been enough opportunity to play first XI cricket so it was something I needed to address.

“There is certainly no animosity between myself and Durham, quite the opposite in fact. I’ve got my own ambitions that I’m desperate to fulfil.”

Northants’ head coach David Capel said: “I am delighted to be signing Luke as he is a young, tall fast bowler with enormous potential. I have noticed among his many attributes that he has a desire, determination and commitment to perform wholeheartedly for his team.”

Durham’s Middlesbroughborn coach Geoff Cook played for Northants, as did Colin Milburn, Simon Brown, George Sharp and many others from Durham prior to the county’s elevation to first-class status.

It has emerged that there is a North-East connection in Brathwaite’s cricketing education as he was brought over from the West Indies by Teessider Bill Athey, the former Yorkshire batsman, in his role as cricket coach at Dulwich College.

Brathwaite, 25, was the college’s first cricket scholar after being identified as a talent in Barbados and has now spent long enough in this country to become Englandqualified.

Brathwaite said: “I was delighted to be offered a contract with Durham after my initial spell with them. The boys really made me feel incredibly welcome while I was there and I can’t wait to join up with them in pre-season.”

Cook said: “Ruel has a great attitude and real enthusiasm about the game. We’ll be working closely with him to finalise his status as English qualified.”