All-rounder Wayne White struck the first meaningful blow in Leicestershire's Championship season when he trapped Northamptonshire opener Stephen Peters lbw on Wednesday.

White's name will not be over-familiar to County supporters, but that could change rapidly.

He had a trial period at Grace Road during pre-season and impressed to such an extent that he has been handed a contract by the club for the remainder of the season.

However, the 23-year-old could easily still be at Derbyshire, where he made his debut in 2005.

"Derbyshire did offer me a contract but I rejected it because I felt I needed more opportunities to play," said White.

Ahead of him in the bowling stakes were the likes of Charl Langeveldt and all-rounders Graham Wagg and Jonathan Clare, all of whom had cemented their first-team places at Derby.

"At 23 it just seemed a good time to give it a good crack and play at first-class level and see how I stood up to it," he said.

He arrived at Grace Road via a stint in Australia over the winter, where he also met up with County opener Tom New.

"I played in Melbourne and that went well," he said. "I had a good season and it did a lot for my batting and bowling.

"I was going down to Essex then to work with their bowling coach, Graeme Welch, who I knew from Derby.

"But in February Tim Boon asked me to come here for six weeks.

"I jumped at the chance. I think there will be more opportunities here than at Essex."

Over the course of pre-season, White's name was one that was mentioned consistently by the Leicestershire management and skipper Paul Nixon.

With Nadeem Malik injured and Iain O'Brien held up by red tape, it made sense that White should make his Leicestershire Championship bow against Northants this week.

Not surprisingly, he is happy with the way things are working out at Grace Road where he is setting out on a path to establish himself in the first team in first-class and one-day cricket.

"Pre-season went well with the bat," he said.

"My bowling is not where I want it to be at the moment but I am working on a few things with (bowling coach) Lloyd Tennant.

"I'm a bowling all-rounder. Over the years my batting has come along and Tim wants me to think about being a top-five or top-six batter when I'm out there."

None of the players had a chance to shine yesterday on the scheduled second day of the Championship opener.

Bad light prevented them getting out to the middle in the morning session and then rain forced play to be abandoned in mid-afternoon, leaving the visitors on 297-6 with Andrew Hall unbeaten on 95.

Ian Bell, looking to regain a place in the England team, hit the first century of the Championship season for Warwickshire against Somerset at Taunton yesterday.

He was eventually caught at the wicket off Ben Phillips for 172.

The increase in the number of clubs in Division Four of the Leicestershire League means an early start to the campaign with five games scheduled for tomorrow.

Markfield had a good start last year and will hope to make a flying start against Lutterworth seconds.

A youthful Shepshed Town side make their debut against Hinckley Amateur who were relegated last season.

Another new club, Aryans CC, are at home against Leicester Forest.

University Staff, Leicester, are fielding a second team this time and they begin with a home clash against Loughborough Outwoods.

TOMORROW'S DIVISION FOUR FIXTURES: Markfield v Lutterworth Town II; Aryans v Leicester Forest; Hinckley Amateur v Shepshed Town; University Staff Leicester II v Loughborough Outwoods; Hinckley Wharf v SPA.