hamish rutherford has linked up with worcestershire rapids in preparation for being their 2020 overseas player during the vitality blast.
head coach alex gidman confirmed rutherford has flown in from new zealand ahead of the blast opener with glamorgan at cardiff on thursday 27 august.
gidman is hoping the rapids will reap the benefits of rutherford’s hunger and desire to reignite his international career with via him having a successful campaign at New Road.
the left hander had originally been scheduled to play the entire campaign for worcestershire in all formats of the game before covid-19 delayed the start of the season.
but he is available for the entire t20 tournament in which the rapids have produced outstanding cricket in winning the 2018 title and finishing runners-up last september.
rutherford enjoyed a successful first stint with worcestershire last summer when he became only the second player to score a century on first class and list a debut.
this winter he topped the averages for otago volts in the ford trophy and skippered new zealand a.
gidman said: “hamish has arrived. he fitted into the group extremely well last year and it is nice to strengthen the t20 options as much as he can.
“he has been working hard back in new zealand and hitting as many balls as the rest of the guys. i know he is looking forward to playing.
“he is a quality player, one of the better domestic players in new zealand who has experienced international cricket which is what he is striving to achieve again.
“hamish fits what we are after for the squad in terms of that ambition and the drive and we hope a) he performs well for us and b) we can help him achieve what he wants to in terms of playing for new zealand again.
