Derbyshire re-sign Ravi Rampaul for Royal London Cup

Rampaul was the leading wicket-taker in the 2019 T20 Blast, breaking Derbyshire’s record in the process

Derbyshire have re-signed Ravi Rampaul for this season’s Royal London Cup.

The seamer played a key role when the county reached T20 Blast Finals Day for the first time in 2019 but subsequently couldn’t return in the following year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

His status as a Kolpak player then ended his association with the club at the conclusion of the 2020 campaign when the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union terminated Kolpak registrations.

Rampaul, however, continued to find on-field success for Trinidad and Tobago, taking 14 wickets in the Caribbean’s domestic 50-over competition.

Derbyshire’s head of cricket, Dave Houghton, said: “It’s great to be able to welcome Ravi back to the club. He’s a really popular member of the dressing room, and the quality he brings on the field is hard to match.

“His white-ball record is brilliant, he will be a huge asset for us and we can’t wait to see what he can produce for us this time around.”

Rampaul will also be available for Derbyshire’s final three T20 Blast fixtures;. The county have enjoyed little luck this season with overseas players: Billy Stanlake suffered a season-ending back injury early on, while Ben McDermott’s stint was curtailed by an international call-up for Australia. Logan van Beek – another man now in his second spell with the county – was drafted in to replace Stanlake.

Rampaul added: “I loved my first spell with Derbyshire and I’m looking forward to getting started again in familiar surroundings.

“I know most of the players still, and there’s a few new faces who are really exciting young players, if I can help them along in training and in games, I will do that, and hopefully we can get on a roll and challenge for the knockouts.”

Rampaul was the leading wicket-taker in the 2019 T20 Blast, breaking Derbyshire’s record in the process.

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