Cricket

Derbyshire County Cricket Club has secured the services of Australian opening batter Caleb Jewell as one of their overseas players for the 2025 season. The 27-year-old left-hander has represented Australia A and is expected to play across all formats for Derbyshire.Jewell boasts an impressive first-class average of 31.47, having played a pivotal role in Tasmania's run to the 2023-24 Sheffield Shield final. Earlier in the season, he notched up a career-best 227 against Western Australia. He also features for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League.Derbyshire's head of cricket, Mickey Arthur, expressed his admiration for Jewell's abilities: "Caleb is a player I've been monitoring for some time, and everyone I've spoken to has praised his talent. George Bailey and Ian Bell, in particular, have spoken highly of his capabilities."Arthur emphasized the need for reinforcements in Derbyshire's batting lineup: "We've identified the need to strengthen our batting across all formats, and having Caleb with us for the entire season will provide the consistency we require. He will bring a gritty presence to the top of the order."Despite not yet earning a senior cap for Australia, Jewell has emerged as a potential successor to David Warner and Usman Khawaja at the top of the Test order, having impressed with scores of 66, 78, and 131 for the A team in 2023.Jewell expressed his excitement about joining Derbyshire: "I'm eager to experience county cricket with Derbyshire, showcase my abilities in all formats, and contribute to the club's success. Many Australian players have made their mark in England, and I aspire to follow in their footsteps. I'm thrilled to work with the coaching staff at Derbyshire, enhance my game, and play alongside the talented squad."Derbyshire's current season in the County Championship has been challenging, with the club likely to finish at the bottom of Division Two. However, they came close to reaching the knockout stages in both white-ball competitions.Jewell's signing marks Derbyshire's second acquisition ahead of the 2025 summer, following the addition of Middlesex allrounder Martin Andersson on a two-year contract.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club has bolstered its bowling attack by signing Sri Lankan quick Vishwa Fernando for the next three County Championship matches. The left-arm seamer, who has 64 Test wickets at an average of 33.09 in 23 caps, will be available for fixtures against Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire, and Derbyshire.Fernando's acquisition comes at a crucial time for Yorkshire, who have struggled for wins in the early stages of the season. The club has gone five matches without a victory, including a defeat against Middlesex, and currently sits sixth out of eight in Division Two.The 32-year-old Fernando is expected to make his debut for Yorkshire next week against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. He will be the club's second overseas player in the Championship, alongside skipper Shan Masood. South African Donovan Ferreira has already been confirmed as Yorkshire's overseas player for the Vitality Blast.Fernando's signing is a significant boost for Yorkshire's bowling resources, which have been depleted by injuries to Matthew Fisher, Mickey Edwards, and Matt Milnes. The Sri Lankan seamer has a proven track record at international level, having played a key role in his country's recent 2-0 Test series win in Bangladesh.In the Bangladesh series, Fernando finished second in the wicket-taking charts with 10 dismissals at an average of 16.10. He is also expected to be in contention for Sri Lanka's tour of England later this summer, which begins on August 21 at Emirates Old Trafford.Yorkshire will be hoping that Fernando can help them kickstart their promotion push. The club has a strong squad on paper, but injuries and a lack of form have hindered their progress so far this season.Fernando's arrival will provide Yorkshire with an experienced and proven performer who can help them turn their fortunes around. The Sri Lankan seamer is a skilled bowler who can swing the ball both ways and generate good pace. He will be a valuable addition to Yorkshire's attack and could play a key role in their promotion hopes.

Surrey County Cricket Club has bolstered its Vitality Blast squad with the signing of Australian fast bowler Spencer Johnson for the first eight matches of the tournament. Johnson, a left-armer, is a familiar face at The Oval, having represented Oval Invincibles in the 2023 campaign.During his stint with Invincibles, Johnson showcased his exceptional skills, claiming five wickets, including a remarkable 3 for 1 off 20 deliveries against Manchester Originals. His impressive performance played a crucial role in Invincibles' successful title run.Johnson's acquisition comes at an opportune time for Surrey, who will be without four key players due to their involvement in the T20 World Cup. Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, and Reece Topley have all been selected by England for the global event.The Australian pacer will join Sean Abbott as Surrey's overseas options for the Blast. The club is permitted to field a maximum of three overseas players in its squad and two in its playing XI."I'm thrilled to join Surrey and have some fantastic memories from playing at the Kia Oval last year," Johnson said. "Surrey has a great squad, and I'm eager to contribute with the ball in front of the passionate crowds in south London."Alec Stewart, Surrey's director of men's cricket, expressed his delight at Johnson's signing. "Spencer is a highly talented cricketer who has proven his abilities in white-ball cricket at the highest levels," Stewart said. "He will strengthen our bowling unit during the early stages of the group stages when we have four players away at the World Cup with England."Despite missing out on Australia's T20 World Cup squad, Johnson remains a highly sought-after player in the T20 circuit. He secured a lucrative deal worth AU$1.78 million (USD1.175 million) with Gujarat Titans in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL).Following the Vitality Blast, Johnson will represent LA Knight Riders in Major League Cricket before returning to The Oval for his Hundred stint with Invincibles. He could potentially add to his six international caps at the end of the English summer when Australia tours for three T20Is and five ODIs.

Kent County Cricket Club has bolstered its bowling attack with the signing of Australian seamer Charlie Stobo as overseas cover for Wes Agar, Xavier Bartlett, and Beyers Swanepoel. The 29-year-old Stobo, who has a proven track record in the Sheffield Shield with Western Australia, has inked a deal that runs from May 20 to September 16, encompassing all formats of the game.Stobo's arrival comes amidst a shortage of fast-bowling options for Kent. The club was dealt a blow when Cricket Australia altered the conditions of Bartlett's No-Objection Certificate, preventing him from participating in the County Championship. To address this, Kent has already secured the services of South African seamer Swanepoel, who is set to join the squad for their Championship match against Lancashire on Friday.Stobo, despite being uncapped at international level and lacking T20 experience, qualifies to play professionally in the UK due to an ancestry visa. His signing is a testament to Kent's proactive approach to player recruitment, as they seek to navigate the challenges posed by the ECB's new regulations allowing counties to register up to four overseas players simultaneously.Simon Cook, Kent's director of cricket, expressed his delight at Stobo's acquisition. "We've been monitoring Charlie for some time now, and we're thrilled to have him on board for a significant portion of our season," Cook said. "We believe he possesses the attributes to succeed at Canterbury and will enhance our squad depth, enabling us to rotate players, particularly bowlers, to optimize their workloads and maximize their potential."Stobo, for his part, is eager to join his fellow Australians at Kent. "I'm excited to connect with some familiar faces, contribute to the Aussie presence with Wes Agar and Xavier Bartlett, and be part of a talented squad," Stobo said. "I'm grateful for this opportunity to play for Kent, which presents a new and exciting challenge for me."Both Stobo and Swanepoel will be available for Kent's Metro Bank Cup campaign, which commences in late July. Their signings underscore Kent's determination to compete on all fronts this season, as they aim to build on their recent successes in the County Championship and Vitality Blast.