Fierce, quick and keen to prove himself in England, Derbyshire has signed South Africa fast bowler Duanne Olivier for the first half of the 2018 season.
The tall paceman is available for the first seven Specsavers County Championship matches and the entire Royal London One-Day Cup campaign, and brings pace, control and a desire to take wickets to The 3aaa County Ground.
At just 25 years of age, he has already claimed 284 first-class wickets at an impressive average of 22, with best innings figures of 6-60. Known for control in the middle overs, but with raw pace to take wickets throughout an innings, Olivier has led the attack for VKB Knights in South Africa after cementing his place in 2016.
A regular wicket-taker for Free State aged 19, the right-arm quick caught the eye of the national selectors and was quickly drafted into South Africa Under 19s and then became the leading wicket-taker for South Africa A in their winter tour of Australia in 2016.
Weeks later his performances earned him a call-up to the Test side to face Sri Lanka on home soil, where he took match figures of 5-57 on debut in Johannesburg.
The fine form continued into the domestic season as he closed the South African summer with 64 wickets in ten first-class matches at an average of 16.51, including five five-wicket hauls.
Far from a red ball specialist, he has featured in 34 List A matches, returning 45 wickets at an economy rate of five, further adding to his reputation as a consistent bowler and not one to give runs away.
A player with the hunger to bowl long spells, Olivier has previous experience in England having claimed seven wickets in two Tests against England last summer, at an average of 27.57.
He now looks forward to a busy start to the summer with Derbyshire, aiming to lead the 2018 bowling attack alongside the likes of Hardus Viljoen, Ravi Rampaul and Will Davis.
Welcome to Derbyshire, Duanne.
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