New Zealand batsman Hamish Rutherford is eager to begin his spell with Derbyshire after joining up with the squad at Chelmsford this week.
Rutherford, who will take over the overseas berth from Tillakaratne Dilshan after Thursday’s NatWest T20 Blast clash versus Leicestershire Foxes at Derby, has been part of New Zealand’s touring party in England this summer and he joined up with his new Derbyshire teammates at Essex this week.
Dilshan missed the fixture at Chelmsford due to personal reasons, but Rutherford was unable to play as Dilshan hasn’t completed the statutory minimum of 21 days signed as an overseas player for the county.
Dilshan will play his final game for the Falcons against Leicestershire Foxes on Thursday before heading to the Caribbean Premier League, with Rutherford due to make his debut against Worcestershire Rapids at New Road the next day.
Rutherford will be available for seven NatWest T20 Blast matches as well as three LV= County Championship matches and four Royal London One Day games in total.
“Hopefully I can score some runs and contribute to some good performances to help us win some games of cricket, I am looking forward to the first game on Friday,” he said.
“There is still a lot of cricket to be played in the NatWest T20 Blast and who knows what can happen if we can win a few games, starting with this week.
“We haven’t had the start we would have liked and not had the results we would have hoped for, but we can still pick up results if we play well.
“In my role as an opening batsman I can have a hit in the first six overs and it will be nice to play white ball cricket again.
“It has been a great time for New Zealand cricket in the last couple of years, we have seen strong support from the cricketing world. Cricket has always been played in a positive way and that is how I want to play at Derbyshire.”
Rutherford added: “It’s been nice to hit some balls down in Essex and to watch the boys in action. I spoke to Martin Guptill briefly about Derbyshire and I am looking forward to getting out there and playing some cricket.
“It’s been difficult down at Essex after losing the toss, but the team have battled well and they had a fantastic performance against Kent last week.
“There is no reason why we can’t produce winning performances, but it is about getting that consistency and if we can do that then the wins will come.”
Derbyshire are back in home NatWest T20 Blast action on Thursday 18 June when they welcome Leicestershire Foxes to The 3aaa County Ground.
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