Van Beek to play for Wellington
Wellington have further bolstered their cricketing roster by securing Canterbury allrounder Logan van Beek for the coming season.
Cricket Wellington confirmed the seamer’s move to the capital in their second raid on Canterbury’s bowling stocks in as many seasons, after Hamish Bennett’s successful shift a year ago.
Van Beek joins Otago batsman Michael Bracewell - his New Zealand under-19 team-mate in 2009 - as off-season acquisitions for the Twenty20 champions.
Van Beek has played eight T20 internationals for the Netherlands and is in the UK representing them in a tri-series against Denmark and an Essex XI. Last summer van Beek played just five T20 and five Plunket Shield matches for Canterbury amid a young crop of pace bowlers, with captain Andrew Ellis the side’s main bowling allrounder.
‘‘It was a very hard decision to leave Canterbury, who are winning titles and have a great environment. The Firebirds have given me an opportunity to challenge myself in a new environment and I look forward to helping in continuing the success they have had in the past few seasons,’’ he said in a statement.
Van Beek has played just 28 first-class matches since his debut in March 2010, and has 65 wickets at 36.55 and 789 runs at 24. He played eight 50-over matches for Canterbury in their run to the Ford Trophy title this year, taking 10 wickets at 28 and economy rate of 5.8.
He made more impression with bat than ball when Canterbury met Wellington in the Plunket Shield in March, scoring 66 and 54 not out and taking two wickets in the match.
Firebirds coach Bruce Edgar saw van Beek, a former representative basketballer, as the allrounder the side needed.
‘‘We’re really pleased to have Logan join the squad this season. His game has developed nicely over the past few years and he’s become a compelling pace bowling allrounder.’’