Worcestershire have secured their second significant new signing in two weeks, with Yorkshire all-rounder Matthew Waite putting pen to paper on a three-year contract.
Waite spent a short and successful spell on loan at New Road earlier in the season, signed until the end of the 2025 season, and will join Worcestershire from 1st October.
It follows on from Worcestershire securing the services of Warwickshire middle order batter Adam Hose, also for the next three years.
Worcestershire Cricket Steering Group Chair, Paul Pridgeon, believes Waite can bat in the middle order and has the capabilities to fill the role of Ed Barnard, who is moving to Warwickshire at the end of the season.
Waite played for Worcestershire in the LV=Insurance Championship win over Leicestershire at New Road, had match figures of 25-12-50-6, including 4-35 in the second innings, and scored 13 not out in his only innings.
Since then, he has gone on to play in four Division One games for Yorkshire, plus making five appearances in the 2022 Vitality Blast, including Finals Day.
Pridgeon said: “Matthew impressed us when he was here on loan earlier in the season, taking wickets and looking capable of scoring runs in the middle order, and obviously, it was a role we had to fill with Ed Barnard’s departure.
“We feel Matthew, who is 26, an experienced cricketer with a lot of cricket under his belt for Yorkshire, will do a very decent job for us.
“He has top division experience in the LV=Insurance County Championship and has played quite a lot of white ball cricket.
“We really like him as a cricketer, and we liked his personality when he was here as well. He fitted in our dressing well, and that is something that is important to us.
“He fits the bill for us perfectly, and we hope he will be very successful for us.”
Waite said: “I totally enjoyed my short spell at Worcestershire and contributing to a win and, even in that short time, I could see the great potential at the Club, with a mixture of youngsters and experience.
“I was made to feel welcome by everyone and part of the group, and I’m delighted to move to Worcestershire on a three-year contract.
“It’s a Club wanting to experience more success in red ball and white ball cricket, and I want to play my part and feel I can contribute with bat and ball.
“I’m 26, it’s an ideal move at this stage of my career, a fresh challenge, and I can’t wait to get started this winter.”
Waite has made 13 first class, 22 List A and 25 T20 appearances in his career.
He was Yorkshire’s Young Player of The Year in 2016 and the following year scored his maiden List A half-century with 71 off 58 balls against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
His maiden five-wicket haul followed in 2019 against Leeds-Bradford UCCE, and his 4-35 for Worcestershire against Leicestershire was a Championship-best performance.
