MASTER BLASTER!
AUSSIE BATSMAN-WICKETKEEPER JOINS FOXES FOR T20 CAMPAIGN
AUSTRALIAN top-order batsman and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis has joined Leicestershire for their 2021 Vitality Blast campaign.
A powerful hitter of the white ball in the Big Bash League (BBL) for Perth Scorchers, Inglis was a finalist in the 2021 edition, only to lose out to back-to-back champions Sydney Sixers.
The 26-year-old is aiming to break into the top 10 batsman in the overall BBL rankings, with a career total of 941 runs, an average of 29.41 and an excellent strike-rate of 143.45 in the competition.
He batted at number four for the majority of the 2020/21 BBL campaign in a powerful Scorchers top order that has included England internationals Jason Roy and Liam Livingstone.
Inglis has posted eight halfcenturies in the BBL with a highest score of 73 coming against Hobart Hurricanes in
January 2019.
His stunning unbeaten 72 off just 41 balls – including seven fours and two sixes – propelled his side to a fine win against Melbourne Renegades at the start of January.
Born in Leeds, Inglis was an agegroup cricketer at Yorkshire County Cricket Club before emigrating to Perth as a teenager.
He caught the eye during the 201415 season playing red ball cricket for Joondalup Districts CC in a season where he scored 1,137 runs at an average of 66.88, including a best score of 246.
As well as being a highly-skilled batsman, Inglis is also regarded as a terrific wicket-keeper in the BBL, making his way up to fourth in the BBL rankings.
Inglis said: “I am delighted to have signed for the Running Foxes for the 2021 edition of the Vitality Blast.
“It will be the first time that I will be playing domestic cricket in England and look forward to testing myself against the competition’s best as well as linking up with my new team-mates.”
Inglis also caught the eye in the fielding field prior to donning the gloves, so gives Leicestershire head coach Paul Nixon plenty of options.
Nixon said: “Josh is a player who really fits the bill, a batsman who can slot into various positions, and somebody equally at home with the gloves or in the field.
“He has shown his skill in making centuries batting at seven and eight in first-class cricket this year, and a player who looks equally comfortable batting higher up the order.
“In white ball cricket, Josh has batted at number four with a controlled aggression to take the game away from the opposition or get ahead in a run chase.
“Josh also fits our mould in terms of being young, hungry and keen to keep developing his game.
“We have spoken to people who have worked with Josh and his strokeplay, match-winning ability and character are traits that have shone through.”
Inglis joins Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, below, in the Foxes squad for this summer’s competition. Leicestershire play Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford in their opening T20 Blast match on June 10.