Boje is an experienced and versatile campaigner

South African all-rounder Nicky Boje has been named as Northants captain for the 2008 county season.

Boje will succeed David Sales, who gave up the job last month after leading the team for four years.

"We need an experienced, capable captain who can bring the best out of the talent available," chief executive Mark Tagg told the club's website.

Boje, 34, played 43 Tests and 115 one-day games for South Africa before retiring from international cricket.

606: DEBATE I reckon anyone taking over the captaincy has got a hard act to follow ourformercaptain

And he has already set himself the ambitious target of leading the team to promotion in the County Championship and Pro40 league this summer.

"Being asked to captain Northants is a great honour and one I could not have imagined just a few days ago," he commented.

Boje spent a month with the club last summer and took 16 wickets in four Championship matches with his left-arm spin and also hit 125 against Leicestershire.

Coach David Capel said the club was fortunate to have "somebody of the calibre and proven track record" of Boje to lead the team.