Oxfordshire have snapped up former Leicestershire seamer Daniel Rowe as they prepare for a new Minor Counties Championship season.

The 25-year-old was released by the Grace Road club at the end of the 2008 campaign.

His capture is a timely tonic for Oxon following the news that batsman Rob Williams will miss the first half of the season after suffering a badly dislocated finger while playing for Stockton in the national indoor finals at Lord’s.

The injury required an operation and Oxon captain Ian Hawtin said Williams was expected to be out of action for 12-16 weeks.

Rowe made nine first-class appearances for Leicestershire during his three years with the East Midlands county.

He hit 85 on his Championship debut against Essex at Grace Road in 2007, but struggled to make an impression with the ball, taking 18 wickets at 38.00 runs apiece with best figures of 5-61.

He also made seven one-day appearances and played two Twenty20 games last year.

Rowe, who will be playing his club cricket in Wales, was recommended to the county by Oxon batsman Richard Kaufman, who played with him for Cardiff UCCE.

Hawtin said: “We are looking forward to him playing for us because we have been looking for a seamer.

“He came to us and is looking to play Minor Counties cricket, so we are pleased to have him on board.”

Williams’s injury is a major blow for Oxon though.

Although he had far from a vintage season last year, he made the county’s top score with a unbeaten 169 against Wiltshire and finished the season with an average of 50.50.

l Great & Little Tew will host Oxfordshire for the first time in the Minor Counties Championship this season.

The west Oxon venue will be used for the Dorset game from June 7-9.