New Zealand allrounder available for nine group-stage games as replacement for Mitchell Marsh
Middlesex have further strengthened their squad for this year’s Vitality Blast by bringing in New Zealand allrounder Daryl Mitchell. Having signed Paul Stirling for the start of the tournament, Mitchell will come in for the last nine group games.
The pair were recruited after Middlesex lost out on the services of Mitchell Marsh, with the Australia allrounder called up for the tour of the Caribbean.
“It’s great that Daryl has agreed to play for us in the T20 Blast this season,” Middlesex’s head coach, Stuart Law, said. “He comes highly recommended by his New Zealand contemporaries and we have watched him force his way into that strong New Zealand team over the last few years.
“He brings an all-round game, with a focus on power hitting, and good cricket intellect. We look forward to welcoming him into the Middlesex family and can’t wait to start working with him during the Blast.”
Mitchell, 30, has been capped in all three formats by New Zealand and is an experienced T20 player, with 2110 runs and 48 wickets from 108 matches, and a batting strike rate of 130.48. He scored his maiden ODI ton – from just 92 balls – against Bangladesh in March. This will be his first experience of county cricket.
“I am really honoured to have signed with Middlesex and to be able to call Lord’s my home for the Vitality Blast,” Mitchell said. “I’m looking forward to meeting up with the group after our Test Championship final versus India and getting stuck into winning some t20 cricket.”
Middlesex have also signed Mujeeb Ur Rahman for the T20 Blast, but could face difficulties getting the Afghanistan spinner into the country amid various pandemic-related restrictions on travel.