Stirling set to Blast doors open for Bears – boss

BIRMINGHAM Bears have signed Ireland opening batter Paul Stirling ahead of this season’s Vitality Blast.

The 31-year-old has been an Irish international since 2008 and is well known in English cricket for representing Middlesex.

Stirling becomes the Bears’ second overseas signing, after the return of Carlos Brathwaite, who will captain the side, was confirmed at the end of last year.

Belfast-born Stirling appears set to form a new-look opening partnership with Alex Davies, a recent arrival from Lancashire, in what is considered to be a serious statement of intent from the club.

The Bears were highly successful on the red-ball front last year, winning the County Championship and Bob Willis Trophy, but there was disappointment in the Blast, where they were knocked out by eventual champions Kent in the quarter-final, thus denying them a Finals Day homecoming at Edgbaston.

Paul Farbrace, the Bears’ director of cricket, is determined to do better in the white-ball formats and said: “Paul could be a transformational signing for us in this year’s Blast.

“He is one of the most powerful openers in the T20 game and has lots of experience on the biggest stage, having played in World Cups and global franchise tournaments.

“With a new-look opening pair of Paul and Alex Davies in this year’s Blast, it’s an incredibly exciting line-up that Carlos Brathwaite is going to be captaining when we take to the field at

Edgbaston for our opening game against the Steelbacks on May 26.”

Big-hitting Stirling will bring a tremendous track record to Edgbaston. He has more than 5,000 ODI runs to his name at an average above 38, but in T20 cricket his strike rate is over 140.

He has played T20 cricket around the world, including in the PSL, and can’t wait to get going with the Bears.

“I’m incredibly excited to join up with the Bears for this year’s Vitality Blast,” said Stirling. “They were the masters of the red-ball game last year but also have big ambitions in white-ball cricket. I’m also relishing making Edgbaston my home. It’s one of the top grounds in the world with a fanbase renowned for generating the best atmosphere in the game. It’s going to be special and I can’t wait to get started.”

Stirling will be available for the first 12 of the Bears’ 14 group games (including all seven home matches). He may also be available to the Bears if they reach Finals Day in mid-July, though that is not yet confirmed.