Mark Watt joins Derbyshire for 2022 T20 Blast

The Scotland spinner, who previously represented Derbyshire in the 2019 T20 Blast, has taken 65 wickets in 58 T20 appearances and has an economy of 7.28

Derbyshire have signed Mark Watt for the 2022 T20 Blast.

The 25-year-old Scotland international previously represented the club in the 2019 Blast, picking up seven wickets and best figures of 4 for 19 against Yorkshire Vikings, and will be available for the entire competition.

A proven wicket-taker, the left-arm spinner has picked up 65 wickets in 58 career T20 appearances and has an economy of 7.28 in the format.

56 of those wickets have come in 47 T20I outings for Scotland, including seven at the 2021 T20 World Cup. He finished that tournament as his side’s third-highest wicket-taker and was also their most economical bowler among players to bowl more than 10 overs, conceding just 6.13 runs per over.

Watt’s challenge at Derbyshire will be plugging the hole left by Matt Critchley, who departed for Essex at the end of 2021. The leg-spinning allrounder took 12 wickets in 12 appearances last season and recorded a team-leading economy of 6.76.

^{Watt will be hoping to replicate the form of Matt Critchley with the ball [Alex Pantling/Getty Images]}

Commenting on his return to Derbyshire, Watt said: "I enjoyed my time with Derbyshire previously and the chance to work with Mickey was simply too good to turn down.

"I’ve worked hard on my game in the last couple of years, I’ve tested myself against some of the best players in the world and I’ve been able to show what I can do.

"I want to pick up where I left off in 2019 with Derbyshire and target the knockout stages again. I know all about the quality already within this team and with the overseas we have added, I think we will be a match for any side."

Head of cricket, Mickey Arthur, added: "We have been looking for a left-arm spinner to mix up our bowling in T20 and Mark ticks all of the boxes for us.

"He will bring a different quality to our attack and, with Shan Masood and Suranga Lakmal also in the squad, we will have a good amount of international experience on the field at all times.

"Mark showed at the World Cup he has the ability to take the game to any opposition, he has done well in the Vitality Blast before for Derbyshire and I have no doubt he will be a key member of our team this year."