London, 31 January : Lancashire Cricket Club (LCC) has signed New Zealand international cricketers Daryl Mitchell and Colin de Grandhomme ahead of the 2023 season.
The all-rounders have signed overseas contracts with the club and will be available in both the County Championship and Vitality Blast, Lancashire Cricket Club said in an official statement.
De Grandhomme will arrive in the UK for the Red Rose’s first four games of the County Championship season, before Mitchell joins the club at the Emirates Old Trafford before they face Somerset on 11 May.
Mitchell will then be available for selection for Lancashire’s County Championship matches against Hampshire, Surrey and Essex. In addition to the opening four County Championship matches, de Grandhomme will also be available to play in the club’s red ball matches during the Vitality Blast in June and July.
Mark Chilton, director of cricket performance, said: We are really excited to have both Daryl and Colin in our squad and to be able to do so for such a big part of the 2023 season.
Mitchell, who turned professional at Blackpool Cricket Club in 2016, averaged 58.35 in his 14-match Test career and headlined New Zealand’s tour of England in 2022, where he scored two fifties and three hundred, including one against Trent Bridge. Also includes 190 runs scored in
He has scored 5,038 runs in 90 first-class matches at an average of over 40. Mitchell scored over 3,000 runs in the T20 cricket – including 13 half-centuries.
He played eight matches for Middlesex in the Vitality Blast for the first time in 2021 and scored 209 runs and took eight wickets.
On signing, Mitchell said: I am delighted to be joining Lancashire this English summer. The county has a proud history. With Middlesex in 2021, I tasted the Vitality Blast and the county. I am really looking forward to playing for Lancashire this summer. Trying to contribute in both competitions. The chance to retest my skills in two strong competitions is exciting as a player.
De Grandhomme, on the other hand, has experience in all three international formats and the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Big Bash League (BBL).
The 36-year-old Grandhomme averages 37.79 with the bat in first-class cricket, has 15 centuries to his name and has taken 212 wickets in red-ball cricket.
In T20 cricket, de Grandhomme has represented Royal Challengers Bangalore (IPL), Adelaide Strikers (BBL) and Hampshire Hawks (Vitality Blast) and has scored over 4,000 runs at a strike rate of 156.90, and taken 74 wickets.
On signing, Grandhomme said: I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to play for Lancashire this season. I’ve loved playing county cricket before and I’m looking forward to going to England in April to start the season with the Red Roses. Can’t wait for more. Lancashire have an exciting squad who have produced some great performances over the years, hopefully, I can help add some experience to the dressing room so we can take a step forward this season.
