STAFFORDSHIRE ENHANCE THEIR PACE OPTIONS AS HURT JOINS THE SQUAD
STAFFORDSHIRE have added to their pace armoury with the signing of ex-lancashire seamer Liam Hurt.
Hurt was released by the Red Rose county at the end of last season and Staffs have wasted little time in recruiting the right-arm quick.
The 28-year-old progressed through the Lancashire system and went on to make 30 appearances for the county. He took 15 wickets in the 2022 Royal London Cup to help Lancashire to the final, where they were beaten by Kent at Trent Bridge.
Hurt, who has also spent short stints with Leicestershire and Derbyshire in his career, picked up 2-64 in the final.
However, Lancashire opted not to extend his contract and Staffordshire moved in to secure his services for the 2023 National Counties Cricket Association campaign.
Hurt still has ambitions to return to the pro circuit, but will feature in all three formats for Staffs next summer.
Staffs captain James Kettleborough said: “Liam is a brilliant acquisition for us. We looked at what we wanted to add to the squad and we decided it was a strike bowler.
“We found out Liam was available and sat down with him to get him signed up. I’ve played against him and you know what you’re going to get. He’s a big lad who bowls a heavy ball and has lots of skills. When he bowls he hits the splice of the bat hard.
“Liam has been open and honest that he wants to play professional cricket still and he has that desire and hunger. It would be great if we could have him for every game, but we’ll find out about that in the summer.
“If we can play a role in getting him back to first-class level that would be fantastic. He still has big ambitions.”
Hurt picked up 44 wickets in his first-class career, averaging just 27 in the white-ball format.
Hurt, who plays his club cricket for Clifton in the Greater Manchester League, is also handy with the bat. Last summer he scored 156 for Lancashire seconds - batting at number 10 - in a game against Essex 2nd XI.
Staffs head coach Andy Carr said: “We are blessed with seamers from the under-18s right through to the first team, but Liam has that experience.
“Our batting has always been very strong, but you don’t win games unless you take 20 wickets in the red-ball matches. He will also be handy with the bat in the middle order. He’s been on the county circuit for a while and can bring his experience to the set-up.
“He’s going to give everything for us to try to get back to where he believes he should be.”
Staffs have long been searching for a strike bowler to lead their attack - seen as a key ingredient for potential success at NCCA level.
Last year’s Division One East champions Lincolnshire boast former Notts and Surrey paceman Mark Footitt as their attack leader - and Staffs director of cricket Dave Cartledge admits that is one area that needed addressing.
“We’ve been missing someone of Liam’s ilk for a while,” said Cartledge. “Hopefully he can upset one or two opposition batsmen.
“We’ve seen it with Lincolnshire having Footitt how dangerous they can be, so Liam can do the same job for us. There are lots of seamers in our squad, but we needed someone to be at the forefront of the attack - and we hope Liam is the man to fulfil that particular role.
“Liam’s arrival gives everyone a lift and the other seamers can pick up some of his skills. Hopefully they will bounce off him.”