Hobart Hurricanes have made a surprise signing recruiting England Test opener Zak Crawley as an overseas replacement player for the upcoming BBL season.
Crawley, who will be in Pakistan with the England Test squad at the start of the BBL season, has been recruited as a replacement for Pakistan legspinning allrounder Shadab Khan who is set to miss some games in the second half of the BBL due to international commitments in a limited-overs series against New Zealand in January.
Crawley has never played in the BBL but showed glimpses of his capabilities in Australian conditions during a tough Ashes tour last summer. Hurricanes head of strategy Ricky Ponting was impressed by his 77 in the Sydney Test which helped England save the game. Crawley also has a connection with Hurricanes assistant coach Darren Berry who he worked with at London Spirit in the Hundred.
Crawley has a strong domestic T20 record averaging 29.86 and striking at 145.08. He also has a T20 century to his nam, but he has never played T20 cricket outside of England and has not played a T20I.
"I'm really excited to take part in the Big Bash for the first time," Crawley said. "From afar, the Hurricanes seem to be awash with talent both in terms of the list they have built for on-field success, but also the quality list of support stuff they have on it. I'm looking forward to taking part in what I hope will be a very successful summer."
Hobart Hurricanes squad: Asif Ali (Pakistan), Faheem Ashraf (Pakistan), Zak Crawley (England) Tim David, Paddy Dooley, Nathan Ellis, Caleb Jewell, Shadab Khan (Pakistan), Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Joel Paris, Wil Parker, D'Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Chris Tremain, Matthew Wade, Mac Wright