Sussex sign Ishant Sharma for two-month stint

Ishant Sharma had gone unsold at the IPL auction.

Ishant Sharma | BCCI

India pacer Ishant Sharma will join Sussex for the first two months of the 2018 English county season. The 29-year-old will be available for five games in the County Championship besides featuring in Sussex's group stage fixtures in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

Having gone unsold at the IPL auction last month, Ishant will make his first appearance at the county circuit during that period. The lanky speedster will be with Sussex from April 4 to June 4.

"It's a great honour to represent Sussex CCC, the oldest first-class county, and I am looking forward with excitement to my maiden stint in county cricket," Ishant said according to AFP.

Ishant has taken 234 Test wickets in 81 matches for India and has also played 80 one-day internationals and 14 T20s for his country. Sharma’s rich experience will certainly add value to Sussex's fast bowling stocks in the absence of Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer, who will be fulfilling their IPL commitments during that period.

"Once Jofra and CJ were picked up in the IPL draft, it became crucial to sign an experienced international-quality seam bowler who could provide valuable support and know-how to the rest of the seamers,” Sussex director of cricket Keith Greenfield said.

"Ishant has the attributes to be very successful in early season English conditions and a great role model. He fits the bill perfectly," he added.

India are scheduled to tour England from July 3 where they will play three T20Is and as many ODIs before featuring in a five-match Test series.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 15 Feb, 2018

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