St Cross Symondians have signed New Zealand one-day international left-hand batsman spin bowler George Worker as their overseas player for the upcoming ECB Southern Premier League season.
It will be a second spell with the Winchester club for the 26-year old, who was New Zealand Under-19 captain when he made his initial visit in 2009, his run making potential being badly affected by a broken hand early on.
Worker’s imminent arrival is part of a triple boost for St Cross, who will have Hampshire 2nd XI opener Joe Weatherley playing for them all summer, alongside new wicketkeeper Greg Hollis, a strength and conditioning coach at the Ageas Bowl.
Worker, who hails from Canterbury, made four white-ball international appearances for New Zealand in Zimbabwe and South Africa this winter.
He smacked a 38-ball 62 upon t20 debut against Zimbabwe in Harare and later played twice against South Africa in Durban.
Worker, who has been a prolific run scorer and handy left-arm orthodox left-arm spin bowler in New Zealand provincial cricket for the past eight years, was subsequently included in the Black Caps squad
for the first three ODIs against Sri Lanka in December, but he was not picked in the playing 11.
He then sent a reminder to the selectors with a score of 159 against Canterbury – one of 13 first class hundreds he has made – which helped Central Districts win New Zealand’s one-day knockout final.
Worker should form a formidable opening partnership with Shawford-based Weatherley, who has spent the past few seasons with Hampshire’s academy side.
The former England Under-19 captain has been in good form in Hampshire colours this summer, scoring a midweek century against Surrey II, having made earlier big scores against Cardiff UCCE and Lancashire II.
St Cross open their Premier League programme at newly promoted New Milton on May 7.
* George Worker picture courtesy of Photosport NZ.
It will be a second spell with the Winchester club for the 26-year old, who was New Zealand Under-19 captain when he made his initial visit in 2009, his run making potential being badly affected by a broken hand early on.
Worker’s imminent arrival is part of a triple boost for St Cross, who will have Hampshire 2nd XI opener Joe Weatherley playing for them all summer, alongside new wicketkeeper Greg Hollis, a strength and conditioning coach at the Ageas Bowl.
Worker, who hails from Canterbury, made four white-ball international appearances for New Zealand in Zimbabwe and South Africa this winter.
He smacked a 38-ball 62 upon t20 debut against Zimbabwe in Harare and later played twice against South Africa in Durban.
Worker, who has been a prolific run scorer and handy left-arm orthodox left-arm spin bowler in New Zealand provincial cricket for the past eight years, was subsequently included in the Black Caps squad
for the first three ODIs against Sri Lanka in December, but he was not picked in the playing 11.
He then sent a reminder to the selectors with a score of 159 against Canterbury – one of 13 first class hundreds he has made – which helped Central Districts win New Zealand’s one-day knockout final.
Worker should form a formidable opening partnership with Shawford-based Weatherley, who has spent the past few seasons with Hampshire’s academy side.
The former England Under-19 captain has been in good form in Hampshire colours this summer, scoring a midweek century against Surrey II, having made earlier big scores against Cardiff UCCE and Lancashire II.
St Cross open their Premier League programme at newly promoted New Milton on May 7.
* George Worker picture courtesy of Photosport NZ.
