Durham confirm that Turner will return for Vitality Blast stint

Durham Cricket have announced that Ashton Turner will return to the Club for the 2023 Vitality Blast.

The Australian international will re-join up with Durham as a replacement for Tristan Stubs, who will no longer play for the club having been called up for South Africa A’s tour of Sri Lanka.

A proven leader and run scorer with Perth Scorchers in the BBL, Turner joins Durham on the back of another outstandingsummer in Australia where he guided the Scorchers to their fifth BBL title.

His unbeaten 47-ball 84 in the semi-final backed up by 53 in the final saw him named Player of the Match in both games in a season where he averaged 42 and scored 381 runs with four half-centuries.

It is not only in the white ball arena where Turner has excelled this summer, he scored a first-class career best 128 against Victoria to help Western Australia win the Sheffield Shield.

While he skippered Western Australia to Marsh Cup victory – with Turner playing his part in a triple trophy winning season.

The tall-powerful right hander is a regular in the top four with the Scorchers where has scored over 2000 runs since making his debut against Melbourne Renegades in 2013.

Turner has played both formats of white ball cricket for Australia, which included an unbeaten 84 from 43 balls against India in just his second game for the national side.

In addition to his powerful top order batting Turner has taken 26 T 20 wickets with a best of 2/3 in domestic T20 and a best of 2/12 for Australia with his right arm offbreak bowling.

On returning to Durham, Turner said :“I’ m excited to be joining up with Durham again for this year’s Blast campaign “We have an exciting squad, and we have high expectations for the group this year. Hopefully, we can achieve some success and have some fun along the way.”

Director of Cricket, MarcusNorth added :“It is great to news to have Ashton returning to Durham this season, he joins us on the back of an outstanding season for Perth Scorchers and Western Australia, where his experience and leadership skills have once again been evident for all to see.

“I look forward to him joining up with the Durham ahead of the Blast.”