Mitchell Santner signed up by Derbyshire for the 2018 T20 blast

For the second half of the 2018 season, Derbyshire have signed up New Zealand spin bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner as an overseas player. The Kiwi all-rounder delivered some star performances for Worcestershire for the 2017 edition, claiming 13 wickets from 14 matches. The 26-year old has participated in the T20 Blast for Worcestershire for the past two seasons.  He is no mug with the bat either, having scored 535 Test runs at an average of 25.47.

No. 1 in ICC T20I bowler rankings

The No. 1 bowler on the ICC T20I rankings, Santner will also be available for this year’s County Championship matches.  He took over the number one ranking from South Africa’s Imran Tahir who too featured for Derbyshire’s last season. Worcestershire Cricket Advisor Kim Barnett said that they are pleased to sign up the Kiwi, highlighting that he is in the prime of his form for his national team across all formats.

“We’re delighted to secure Mitchell for the second half of the 2018 season, including for the entire Vitality Blast competition. He has been producing some of the best cricket of his career across all forms for New Zealand over the last few months, and is now recognised as the world’s number one T20 bowler. Mitchell is also an exceptional fielder and provides a quality batting option down the order. We look forward to welcoming him to Derbyshire,” Barnett was quoted as saying by Cricket 365.

Impressive record in T20Is

The young cricketer fondly remembered for helping New Zealand reach the 2016 World T20 semi-finals, boasts of impressive numbers in the shortest format of the game. From 25 T20Is, Santner has claimed 28 wickets at 19.96 at an economy rate of 6.88.

The T20 Blast, to be known as Vitality Blast from this season, begins on July 4, with the first match to be played between Essex and Sussex. The two-month-long tournament will end on September 15.