If Chris Green plays this month, an Irish allrounder may offer knock cover.
Lancashire have signed Ireland's George Dockrell for the T20 Blast, with Chris Green set to be accessible for the knockout stages according to his Caribbean Premier League agreements.
In order to be ready for the knockout levels, foreign athletes may have played in at least one group-stage match in the Blast, according to ECB rules. The initial introduction of the concept came after Essex signed Dwayne Bravo especially for Finals Day in 2010.
The Blast's plan has been compromised by the mixture of June's T20 World Cup and the Hundred's summer-holiday screen this year, and there is a six-week difference between the end of the group levels and the quarter-finals this year. It has left many counties scrambling to find outside people who will be obtainable in mid-September.
For their last two party games at Emirates Old Trafford, which include Nottinghamshire on Wednesday evening and Northamptonshire on Friday, Lancashire will omit Dockrell from their roster. Although they have n't yet been mathematically qualified for the quarter-finals, another point would ensure their advancement.
" We are genuinely pleased to put George into our club for the rest of the Vitality Blast this time", Dale Benkenstein, Lancashire's coach, said. George gives us another outside option for the latter stages due to the possibility of knock-out round matches in September and the uncertainty surrounding player availability.
" He will go straight into the club for the final two matches of the group step this week]and ] will give us an experienced left-arm roll opportunity, while he can also be a match-winner with the pitcher in the winner role as he has proven on the international stage with Ireland."
Green, the Australian offspinner, is Lancashire's leading wicket-taker in the Blast this season with 13 but his contract initially only covered the group stages, and he is due to play for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the CPL from August 29 until October 6. He could feasibly be available for Finals Day on September 14 if he flies back to the UK between games.
Tom Bruce, the New Zealand batter, has been Lancashire's other overseas player in the Blast this season. He struggled for form and was dropped for their defeat at Headingley but hit an unbeaten 50 in their recent win over Worcestershire after regaining some confidence in the second XI and in a game of club cricket.
Dockrell, who has reinvented himself as a batting allrounder after spending most of his career as a specialist left-arm spinner, said he was" delighted" to join Lancashire". We are in a really strong position in the North Group, with two important home games remaining as we look to secure that all important home quarter-final at Emirates Old Trafford in September, "he said. He will be reunited with Lancashire's assistant coach William Porterfield, his former international captain.
Liam Livingstone is also in Lancashire's squad for the first time this season, though Jos Buttler is resting after the T20 World Cup. England's white-ball players are likely to be available for the Blast's quarter-finals but not for Finals Day, which falls on the day between two T20Is against Australia.
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