Worcestershire CCC have signed West Indies bowler Alzarri Joseph as its overseas player for the opening phase of the 2021 season.
The West Indies fast-bowler will fly in from Antigua on 4 April and is available for seven successive LV=Insurance County Championship fixtures.
24-year-old Joseph has played 14 Tests in total, claiming 34 wickets, plus 34 ODIs, taking 54 wickets.
Joseph was also the West Indies leading wicket-taker during the 2016 Under-19 World Cup with 13 wickets in six games. He then made his full Test debut later that year.
He has also developed into a useful performer with the bat and, in two of his last three Test appearances, scored 86 against New Zealand in Hamilton and 82 versus Bangladesh in Dhaka.
Joseph grabbed headlines worldwide after his debut for Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League in 2019. His astonishing figures of 6-12 are the best by a bowler in the competition’s history.
Worcestershire Cricket Steering Group Chairman, Paul Pridgeon, said: “He is a quality performer, and we are delighted to have signed him for the best part of two months.
“With it looking like Josh Tongue and Pat Brown may not be match fit for the start of the season, Alex Gidman (Head Coach) and Joe Leach (Club Captain) both felt they needed another seamer.
“Alzarri is going to be available for seven matches and is an exciting prospect.
“He opened the bowling in the Tests against England last year and more recently played in the ODI side against Sri Lanka.”
Alzarri Joseph added: “I am thrilled to be joining Worcestershire for the early part of the summer,”
“When I heard the Club was interested in me, I had no hesitation in saying yes. The Club has a strong squad with a nice balance of youth and experience, and I’m really looking forward to working with bowling coach Alan Richardson.
“I would also like to thank Cricket West Indies for allowing me the opportunity to go and experience county cricket”.
