Gloucestershire hand three-year deal to Scottish quick bowler
» GLOUCESTERSHIRE have signed right arm fast bowler and Scotland International Stuart Whittingham.
The 24-year-old has signed on a three-year deal from Sussex.
Whittingham, a seam bowler from Horsham who first played for Sussex at Under-10 level, made a first-class debut against Derbyshire in 2016 and dismissed the New Zealand international Hamish Rutherford in both innings, following up by adding him first ball when the sides met on Whittingham’s home debut three weeks later.
Rutherford was not his only victim: 18 wickets in six matches were enough to win him a two-year contract until the end of 2018.
Whittingham came up through the junior ranks at Roffey, who he helped win the Sussex Cricket League in 2015.
He qualified to play for Scotland through his Scottish mother and his international career began with a three-wicket performance against Sri Lanka in a practice match at Beckenham as part of Scotland’s tour of England in May 2017.
Scotland won by seven wickets at Beckenham in a warm-up for the Champions Trophy, but the two-match series was not afforded ODI status, so denying them official recognition of their first win over full-member oppostion.
Whittingham went on to make his One-day International debut for Scotland against Papua New Guinea in the 2015–17 ICC World Cricket League Championship in October 2017.
He also made his T20 International debut for Scotland against Ireland in June 2018.
In the 15 first-class appearances he has made, Whittingham has taken 46 wickets, with his best figures of five for 80 coming against Derbyshire at Hove in 2017.
He also took impressive match figures of eight for 93 against Ireland in an Intercontinental Cup match in Dubai in 2017.
Whittingham said: “I am really excited to have signed for Gloucestershire, I am keen to continue with the development of my game and to play here is a fantastic opportunity.
“I feel like I have reached a time in my career where I can offer a lot to the team, we have a great group of lads who are looking to push for success and I can’t wait to get started.
“I look forward to meeting all of Gloucestershire’s Members and supporters very soon.”
Head coach Richard Dawson said: “He will add to our bowling group and boost competition for places.
“His ability to bowl fast spells, along with having an impressive strike rate of 43 balls per wicket, gives us variety in our bowling unit.
“He is still at an age where there is room for development and all the players and coaches are looking forward to working with Stuart.”