Bird’s flying in to bolster Lancs attack
LANCASHIRE have bolstered their seam attack for this season’s County Championship by signing Australian Jackson Bird.
And the Red Rose have added big-hitting New Zealander Finn Allen to their Vitality Blast squad.
The duo add to captain Dane Vilas as their overseas players for the campaign.
Tasmanian Bird, who has 34 Test wickets, has signed for six matches - from their third fixture of the season against Kent on April 22.
He has impressed in Australia’s Sheffield Shield this season, claiming 22 wickets in six matches, and has previous County Championship experience with Hampshire and Nottinghamshire.
“I’m really happy to have the opportunity to come over and play for Lancashire,” said the 34-year-old.
“I’ve felt in good form during this year’s Sheffield Shield and hope I can continue this into the English summer.
“I feel as though I have unfinished business in county cricket.”
Director of cricket Paul Allott says Bird’s signing will help to fill the gap in the bowling ranks left by the retirement of Graham Onions, and to cover for the injured Richard Gleeson.
He said: “It was important we were able to add depth to our quick bowling ranks and help to replace his on-field leadership of the attack.
“Richard Gleeson will be unavailable due to a back injury for the first part of the season, so Jackson will give us another option for those six four-day fixtures.
“Jackson’s accuracy and ability to swing the ball means he is an incredibly useful asset to have in English bowling conditions.”
Allen, 21-year-old, helped Wellington Firebirds win the Super Smash title in New Zealand, finishing leading scoring with 512 runs at a strike rate of almost 194 including 25 sixes.
He has been snapped up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.
“I’m really excited to get over to England, it will be my first spell in county cricket and a great opportunity test myself in one of the world’s best T20 tournaments,” said Allen.
“To win the Super Smash, and finish as leading run scorer in my breakthrough T20 tournament, has provided me with a platform and I am now looking forward to continuing to learn and improve as a cricketer.
“Lancashire is a huge club with a proud history.
“They’ve got a very talented, young and exciting squad.”