Worcestershire have signed New Zealand pace bowler James Hartshorn to bolster their squad for the finale of the Vitality County Championship this summer.
Hartshorn, 26, plays alongside fellow Kiwi Nathan Smith, who has been forced to cut short his spell with Worcestershire this summer through injury, for Wellington.
He featured in five matches during last winter’s Plunket Shield and helped Wellington to lift the title.
Manawatu born Hartshorn returned his career best figures of 4-17 during the second innings of the 172-run win over Central Districts in October.
He has played a total of 11 first class matches, taking 19 wickets, and four in List A cricket.
Hartshorn made his List A debut for Wellington in 2020 and his first class bow the following year.
He comes from a cricketing family and his father David played for Canterbury and New Zealand Young Cricketers while his uncle Richard appeared for New Zealand Under-19s and Canterbury Under-19s and Under-22s.
Worcestershire Head Coach Alan Richardson confirmed his Wellington counterpart, Shane Jurgensen, alerted him to Hartshorn.
He said: “With James it is quite a flexible arrangement. He has been playing down in Sussex for Middleton Cricket Club and has been doing really well.
“He was put on our radar by Shane Jurgensen, the Wellington Head Coach, who I have developed a bit of a relationship with recently over recent times with Nathan Smith and Logan van Beek.
“We were just talking and he couldn’t speak highly enough of James. I know he is a fairly inexperienced player so far and is at the start of his journey.
“But he is someone who excites Shane who has been around a lot and knows his bowlers and has started to break into the Wellington side.
“They see him going from strength to strength so it was an opportunity for us for James to come along.”
Richardson added: “It’s no secret we are a little bit short of numbers in terms of injuries and so James has that opportunity to come and join us.
“We obviously do as much due diligence as we can and character references have been absolutely glowing.
“For us, he comes and joins the group, it gives us some flexibility with the numbers we have. We know he is going to bring some quality.”
Hartshorn said: “I’m looking forward to having my first taste of county cricket which can only be beneficial in terms of my development and a great learning curve.
“I’ve spoken to Logan and Nathan and they have nothing but glowing things to say about Worcestershire and their time at the club over the past year and the way they were made to feel welcome.
“It was great to be part of the Wellington squad which won the Plunket Shield last winter and I hope in some way I can help Worcestershire achieve their goals for the remainder of the summer.”
