Australia seamer available for three Championship games and full Blast season
Sean Abbott, the Australia seamer, has signed to play for Surrey this summer. He will be available for three LV= Insurance County Championship fixtures and the whole of the Vitality Blast group stage.
Abbott had been due for his first stint in county cricket with Derbyshire last year, but the deal was deferred due to the effects of Covid-19. He will replace Kemar Roach as Surrey’s second overseas player, joining the squad in time for the Championship match against Gloucesershire starting on May 27.
Capped in ODIs and T20Is by Australia, Abbott has been a key performer with the Sydney Sixers, Big Bash champions in 2019-20 and 2020-21. He has taken 115 wickets in 94 T20 appearances, including a spell at the IPL with Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“I’m delighted to have secured the services of Sean for three LV= County Championship matches and all of our T20 group games,” Surrey’s director of cricket, Alec Stewart, said. “His all-round skills and the experience of having won back-to-back BBL trophies will add real strength to our group.”
Abbott has plenty of first-class experience, too, with more than 150 wickets in a decade playing for New South Wales. He averages 22.88 with the bat, and made a maiden hundred in the 2020-21 Sheffield Shield season.
Abbott said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Surrey, one of the biggest counties in England. I’m grateful for the opportunity to go over and play. I’ve had the pleasure of playing with a few of the Surrey guys who played at the Sydney Sixers who have done very well.
“Obviously I’m keen to pull on the Surrey colours and be involved in the setup over there, and continue to learn and get better as a cricketer, whilst hoping to help Surrey win the Vitality Blast and the LV= County Championship.
“I know they’ve got an amazing set up and a great bunch of lads so I’m looking forward to getting to London, playing some great cricket, and making new friends.”
Roach, the West Indies seamer, has now arrived in the UK following his involvement in the Test series against Sri Lanka. He is expected to be available for Surrey’s second Championship match, against Leicestershire, and could feature in six games before departing after the London derby with Middlesex in late May.