Lancashire sign Will Williams for County Championship stint

The New Zealander has taken 116 wickets at 22.90 in 41 first-class appearances for Canterbury

Lancashire have signed Will Williams on a short-term red-ball deal.

The New Zealander will be available for the club’s upcoming LV= Insurance County Championship matches against Warwickshire and Gloucestershire.

The 29-year-old has made 41 first-class appearances for Canterbury in the Plunket Shield, picking up 116 wickets at 22.90.

In the 2021/22 season, he was the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the competition, collecting 25 dismissals at 21.52.

^{Will Williams bowling for Canterbury in the Plunket Shield [Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images]}

Williams has been signed to boost the club’s depleted seam ranks. James Anderson is currently involved in England’s Test series with New Zealand, Luke Wood has been named in the ODI squad to face the Netherlands later this month, and both Saqib Mahmood and Jack Blatherwick are injured.

Hassan Ali’s stint at the club has also come to an end.

Commenting on the club’s new signing, director of cricket performance, Mark Chilton, said: "With the loss of four seamers due to a combination of international selection and injury, the club has moved quickly to utilise our remaining overseas slot and strengthen the squad for this month’s two County Championship fixtures.

"Will has an excellent first-class bowling record, performing at a consistent level in the Plunkett Shield since signing his first professional contract with Canterbury in 2017, and his name has been on the club’s radar for some time now.

"His accuracy and control with the red ball will be a real asset for us, and we are looking forward to Will showcasing his skills in the County Championship, starting tomorrow at Edgbaston."