The prolific Sales has been with Northamptonshire for 13 seasons

Northamptonshire batsman David Sales has resigned as the county's captain.

The 30-year-old scored almost 1,400 first-class runs at an average of more than 55 last season, and he retains hope of an England call-up.

"If I haven't got the responsibilities of worrying about everybody else my game might even go to another level," he told BBC Radio Northampton.

"I've still got a lot of ambitions and one is to see if I'm good enough to play international cricket."

Sales added: "I've had four fantastic years and feel I haven't got the passion. I feel a big weight's been lifted off my shoulders.

"I want to make sure I'm the person that's scoring the most runs in the country next year and competing with Mark Ramprakash to be the best batsman in England."