Leach, the new Shropshire captain, recently opted to leave London Road after playing a starring role with the the bat in Shrewsbury's latest title-winning season to join second division Shifnal.

But Shrewsbury skipper Rob Foster said the club were delighted to have now recruited Birmingham-based Stebbings, 26, as a replacement at the top of the order.

Stebbings, whose former clubs are Brockhampton and Halesowen, arrives at Shrewsbury with an impressive pedigree as a regular in Minor Counties cricket with Herefordshire.

He also played six first-class matches during his days as a student for Oxford MCCU where his team mates included Shrewsbury paceman Mike Barnard.

Their friendship, revealed Foster, played a leading role in Stebbings deciding to make the switch to Shrewsbury.

"Ben's a like for like replacement for Steve Leach and we're pleased to sign a player of his quality," said Foster. "He's a good friend of Mike Barnard's from their time at university together in Oxford and he's played a couple of Twenty20 games for the club as a guest in the past in the Salop Leisure KO.

"He already knows a few of the lads at the club and, having played for Halesowen last year, he wanted to get back into the premier division.

"To get somebody of Ben's quality is great for the club. He's always admired for the club and it's nice to get everything sorted so early."

Foster added Shrewsbury were now closing in on other signings as they look to bolster a squad weakened by the departures of Leach together with Tom Cox, Steve Barnard and Alex Blofield, who will all now be playing their club cricket for London side Shepherd's Bush now they are based in the capital.

"We need to get a few more in and we're working on it," said Foster, looking forward to his fourth season at the helm at London Road after being re-elected as captain at Shrewsbury's recent AGM.