Leicestershire Foxes’ NatWest T20 Blast ambition has continued to grow with the signing of Ireland all-rounder Kevin O’Brien for the first part of this year’s tournament.
Leicestershire had already secured the services of New Zealand batsman Grant Elliott, one of the stars of the World Cup, along with Australia paceman Clint McKay, their overseas player for this season. They will be led by another new face, Mark Cosgrove.
O’Brien, who joins his brother Niall at the county from May 15 to June 26, will lend significant experience to Leicestershire, whose three domestic Twenty20 crowns is more than any other club.
Kevin O’Brien, like his sibling part of the Ireland side that narrowly missed out on the World Cup quarter-finals, has had county spells with Gloucestershire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset and Surrey. He has also featured in the Bangladesh Premier League and Caribbean Premier League.
He has played in 125 T20 games in his career and needs just 20 runs to reach the 2,000-mark. The seamer’s 68 wickets have come at an average of 22.94 and an economy of less than 7.5 runs per over.
Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket chief executive Wasim Khan MBE said: “It is great to have Kevin as part of our NatWest T20 Blast team in 2015. Kevin adds further international experience to a line-up that includes his brother Niall, Grant Elliott, Mark Cosgrove, Clint McKay and Rob Taylor, and we look forward to seeing him in action at Grace Road.”