I need to give myself the best opportunity to play regular first-team cricket Nicky Peng

"He's got excellent credentials and impressed us a couple of years ago with a very good hundred at Sophia Gardens.

"He's the right sort of age at 23, so that hopefully he could be with us for the next 10 years," coach John Derrick told the club's website.

Durham had wanted to keep the former England under-19 captain, but he turned down their offer of a new contract.

"I am very grateful to Durham for giving me the opportunity to play first-class cricket. However, at this point I feel that I needed a new challenge and to give myself the best opportunity to play regular first-team cricket," said Peng.

He has yet to fully live up to the potential he showed as a youngster and although he spent a winter with the England Academy squad in 2001-02, he has a first-class career average of only 23.9.

Despite that, Glamorgan feel he can help fill the gap left by the departure of Matthew Maynard, who retired in May to become England's assistant coach.

"He first came to our attention when he was at school in Newcastle and we've kept tabs on him ever since," Derrick added.