Australian pace bowler Chadd Sayers signed by county
Sport
GLOUCESTERSHIRE head coach Richard Dawson is firmly of the opinion that new overseas hired hand Chadd Sayers possesses the skill set required to make an immediate impact in English conditions.
Regarded as primarily a red-ball recruit, the 31-year-old Australian seam bowler is scheduled to touch down on these shores in time to make his debut in the Second Division contest against Sussex at Arundel, starting next Tuesday.
A replacement for compatriot Dan Worrall, whose season was cut short by injury last month, Sayers will be available to feature in six Specsavers County Championship matches before returning Down Under on July 25. And Dawson is convinced the South Australian right-armer can hit the ground running.
“Chadd is patient, extremely accurate, and likes to pitch the ball up. He bowls a length that brings lbw into play, something that is so very important in English conditions,” he said.
“Meeting your requirements for an overseas player while a World Cup is on and so soon after the completion of the IPL (Indian Premier League) is no easy matter and it took me a good month to come up with Chadd. Not only is he available, he also has the skills to do
well on pitches over here. He gets the ball to swing and we’ve signed him to play red-ball cricket from the get-go.”
Sayers, who made his Australia Test debut against South Africa last year, will be available to play at the Cheltenham Festival and his arrival boosts a Gloucestershire seam bowling department that has been reduced by injury to bare bones.
“It’s a very good time for Chadd to be joining us,” added Dawson. “We’ve been relying pretty much on the same four bowlers since Dan’s departure, and that is clearly not sustainable over the course of a season.
“We’re unbeaten in four matches and are part of a scrap going on for a promotion place. To have a player of Chadd’s experience and ability joining us during what is a really busy period, can only be a good thing.
“I’ve spoken to him on the phone, he’s keen as mustard and looking forward to giving us the support our other bowlers need. A new face at this stage of the season will freshen things up and give us the impetus we are looking for after making such a good start to the season.”
Due to arrive on Friday, Sayers will join up with his new team-mates ahead of next week’s game at Sussex and be available for subsequent Championship fixtures against Leicestershire (twice), Glamorgan, Middlesex and Worcestershire.