Worcestershire are delighted to announce the signing of New Zealand international pace bowler Jacob Duffy to play Rothesay County Championship and Vitality Blast cricket during the first half of the 2025 season.
The 30-year-old, who has played in eight ODIs and 15 T20Is for the Black Caps, recently earned his first New Zealand central contract.
Head Coach Alan Richardson confirmed Duffy is available for six Championship matches in April and May – after the opening fixture against Somerset at Taunton – plus at least one of the two red ball games in June.
He is also contracted for eight Blast fixtures with the Rapids up until the end of June.
Duffy is the latest in a lengthy line of New Zealand players to have represented the County in recent years.
The right-armer has previous experience in Championship cricket during short spells with Kent in 2022 and Nottinghamshire last summer.
He has played first class cricket for Otago for more than a decade and is their record wicket-taker across all formats with 497 scalps after overhauling New Zealand left arm spinner Stephen Boock last winter.
A successful campaign, which brought him 53 domestic wickets, ended with Duffy being voted Otago’s Cricketer Of The Year for 2023-2024.
Richardson believes Duffy “ticks a lot of boxes for people who are going to be successful over here.”
He said: “Really pleased to sign Jacob. He is available for the first block of Championship matches, minus the opening game, and at least one of the matches after that, plus the Blast until the end of June.
“He is now in the New Zealand set-up which is no mean feat. It feels like we are getting someone who is highly skilled, experienced and a very robust cricketer.
“With there being no Joe (Leach), it was important to see how we try and fill that gap in different ways.
“We also know from doing diligence that Jacob is an outstanding character which is really important in terms of how they fit in, how they work with the current players.
“With Jacob it feels, with the character references that we have, that we’ve not only got a skilful cricketer but also an outstanding individual as well so that is really exciting for us.
“In addition he has played over here before which was also quite important for us.
“We wanted to find someone who will compliment the group as well as possible, but also hope we help to develop them as a player and be part of that as much as possible.
“Jacob bowls a heavy ball, bowls with good pace, gets it to bounce, gets it to move, he ticks a lot of boxes for people who are going to be successful over here and is someone who gives us something in both formats as well.”
Duffy said: “I know a lot of New Zealanders have played for Worcestershire in recent years and been successful and I hope I can emulate them and help the club to be successful.
“I’ve had short spells over in England before but hope being with Worcestershire for almost three months can help with my development as a cricketer.
“I have been playing for quite a long time now, but you never stop learning.
“Some of the New Zealand lads who have played at New Road have spoken of the great spirit in the playing group, and I’m looking forward to being part of that.,
“Worcestershire did brilliantly well last summer to cement their place in Division One of the Championship and I hope I can help them build on that and contribute to bringing success in the Blast.”
