Wes Durston says he’s excited about the potential in the county’s NatWest T20 Blast side this summer after the recent addition of James Neesham.
Neesham has signed for the entire NatWest T20 Blast campaign and will join up with Otago Volts teammates, Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom.
One-day Captain, Durston, is pleased with the competition for places in the team this year and the addition of Neesham is set to bolster his already strong options with both bat and ball.
Speaking to Owen Bradley from BBC Radio Derby, Durston said: “James is a very exciting signing. He is an explosive left-hander batsman who bowls in the middle overs.
“He has played in the Indian Premier League and in the Caribbean T20. His experience and willingness to work hard and learn will bring a lot to the younger guys here.
“We drew up a list of possible targets and James was right up on that list and we look forward to him coming. We’re looking forward to the season, but the T20 very much so.
“Having Broom and Rutherford signed already probably just swayed it for him to come and play with guys he knows and get to know us here at Derbyshire. I hope that was a good selling point for us.
“It’s certainly great to have this kind of talent in our set-up. James wasn’t picked up in the IPL so was an obvious target for us. He’s very talented.”
Durston continued: “With the T20, we just want to build on last season where we made improvements but were still a way off where we want to be. Bringing in James to go with Hamish and Neil is very exciting.
“In the rest of the squad, the competition for places is much fiercer this summer which can only be a good thing for the Club.
“We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves but we want to make improvements. We made big strides last year and there were more games that we really should have won.
“We didn’t get over the line in some games but we will learn from those mistakes.”
You can see James in a Derbyshire shirt this summer, starting with the NatWest T20 Blast fixture versus Leicestershire Foxes on Sunday 3 June at The 3aaa County Ground – and 2016 Membership is still the best value way to watch.
Derbyshire CCC Membership for 2016 is on sale. Purchase online at derbyshireccc.com, in person at The 3aaa County Ground or by calling 0871 350 1870.
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