Cricket Advisor Kim Barnett says the signing of Duanne Olivier will add further quality to the pace attack as Derbyshire strive to take 20 wickets consistently in four-day cricket.
The 25-year-old South Africa international has claimed 284 first-class wickets at an average of 22 and Barnett is pleased to see the paceman arrive in Derby for the first half of the 2018 season.
Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, Barnett said: “Duanne was on our original list of targets, so I am pleased to get somebody of his quality for the first half of 2018. He’s 25 and hungry to come and show what he can do, so I’m looking forward to seeing him link up with our bowling unit.
“The 2016 season taught us that we needed to strengthen our attack to ensure we could take 20 wickets regularly, and we didn’t look like doing that then. I now hope the batsmen can go out there and think if we get some runs on the board we’ve got a serious chance of winning matches.
“It gives the batting buoyancy knowing that, and the bowlers will feel that they can do the business.”
Olivier will join Hardus Viljoen, Ravi Rampaul and Will Davis in leading the seam attack, contributing to a strong bowling until for the start of the summer. World number one Twenty20 bowler Mitchell Santner will then arrive in July for the remainder of the season, and Barnett is happy to have secured the two signings.
He added: “You split it into two sections for all cricket, and then you have your second T20 player. It is tough, because the IPL and white ball is taking people away from county cricket on finance alone.
“You have to work around IPL, Test matches in April and camps at the end of June. You have to have a pool of four or five targets and make sure they are appropriate, so I am pleased we’ve got two over the line.”
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