Lancashire confirm New Zealand international as second overseas signing

Middle-order batter Tom Bruce will be available across all formats for the entire 2024 campaign

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Lancashire have signed New Zealand international Tom Bruce for the 2024 season.

The 32-year-old is the club's second overseas signing, joining Australia spinner Nathan Lyon.

Like Lyon, Bruce will be available in all competitions throughout the season.

Bruce is an experienced middle-order batter, with over 5,000 runs at 49.85 in 75 first-class outings. Against the white ball, he has scored 2,029 runs at 31.21 in 75 List A matches and 2,453 runs with a strike rate above 140 in 110 T20s.

His T20 record led to 17 T20I appearances for the Black Caps between 2017 and 2020 while he has also represented New Zealand A and select XIs on numerous occasions.

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Bruce has earned 17 T20I caps for New Zealand [Phil Walter/Getty Images]

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The middle-order batter averages nearly 50 in first-class cricket [Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images]

During his only other stint in county cricket, Bruce scored 62 runs in 10 T20 Blast outings for Sussex.

Bruce said: "This is a really exciting opportunity for me, and I can't wait to get over to England in a few months' time.

"To have the opportunity to spend a full county cricket season with a club like Lancashire is a dream come true and to have Emirates Old Trafford as my home ground was another massive draw for me once I heard about the interest.

"I feel that I have a lot to add to Lancashire and I am really excited about what we can achieve together with such a talented group of players in the 2024 season."

Mark Chilton, Lancashire's director of cricket performance, backed Bruce to strengthen the middle order, adding: "Tom will be available throughout the 2024 season, and this was a big draw for myself and Dale when going into the market for our overseas signings for this year. This will allow Tom to settle in, become part of the squad and create consistency and stability in our team selections.

"Tom is a hugely experienced cricketer, and we feel that his skillset will be a good fit within our squad. He has had a hugely impressive few years with the bat in domestic cricket over in New Zealand.

"With the ICC T20 World Cup taking place in June and July this year at the same time as the Vitality Blast, the availability of overseas options is at a premium. Therefore, Tom's quality, experience and full season availability makes him a strong addition to the squad.

"We believe that Tom will offer us a lot of options as he strengthens our middle order in the County Championship whilst his powerful hitting will give our batting line-up a new dimension towards the backend of an innings in the Vitality Blast and Metro Bank One Day Cup."

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