SOUTH African all-rounder Wayne Parnell will join Worcestershire for the conclusion of the Vitality Blast and a block of four Specsavers County Championship matches.
The 28-year-old is a proven performer, having played six Tests, 65 ODIs and 40 T20Is for the Proteas, and will replace Travis Head in the block of the season from August 1 through to September 17.
Head was originally scheduled to remain at Blackfinch New Road until mid-September but has now been selected for Australia’s ‘A’ team tour of India which begins in early August.
Parnell is available for the final six Vitality Blast North Group matches – alongside fellow overseas player Callum Ferguson – and, should the Rapids qualify, the knockout stages of the T20 competition including finals day.
The Port Elizabeth-born player will also be part of the Worcestershire squad for the Championship games with Yorkshire, Lancashire, Hampshire and Surrey – the latter two at Blackfinch New Road.
Parnell has taken 180 first class wickets, 211 List A and 167 T20 in addition to scoring 2024 first class runs at 26.98, 1953 List A at 24.72 and 1098 T20 at 18.93.
He is currently playing for Edmonton Royals in the Global T20 competition in Canada and also in his country’s domestic competitions for the Cobras.
Worcestershire head coach Kevin Sharp said he was delighted to have signed such an accomplished player for a key part of the campaign.
“With the injuries we’ve had in the bowling department and Travis leaving earlier than we anticipated, we wanted to make sure we had the resources to have all corners covered right through the remainder of the season,” he said.
“Wayne is a quality performer and proven at international level, a top notch bowler but someone who can bat as well and has scored a couple of first class hundreds.
“He will be available to play alongside Callum Ferguson in the group stages of the Blast and also the knockout stages if we progress in the competition.
Parnell made his first class debut for Eastern Province in 2006-2007 and was part of the South African Under-19 squad for the 2006 and 2008 World Cups.
He made his ODI debut in 2009 and also played in the World T20 competition the same year, taking nine wickets at an economy rate of less than six. After a successful spell with Kent, Parnell earned his Test breakthrough against England in January 2010.