WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids have re-signed big-hitting batsman Colin Munro for this year’s Natwest T20 Blast campaign.
The New Zealander will join the county as one of their overseas players for the competition, with director of cricket Steve Rhodes hailing the “dangerous and devastating” qualities of the 27-year-old.
Munro enjoyed a successful first campaign at New Road in helping the Rapids reach their second T20 Blast quarter-final in three seasons.
He finished as their second highest scorer in the competition behind skipper Daryl Mitchell with 332 runs at an average of 27.67 and a highest score of 65 in the away win over Derbyshire Falcons.
Munro also impressed fans with his improvisation against the spinners and six-hitting ability and was a popular figure with his team-mates.
Rhodes said he was delighted to be able to welcome Munro back to the city for a second campaign.
“To be the second overseas player, as the T20 player, it takes a special breed,” he said.
“You don’t play a lot of cricket and have quite a bit of time on the sidelines for a T20 hit once a week.
“He is a very dangerous and devastating player in T20 cricket, with the way he can disrupt a spinner, and therefore disrupt the pattern and game-plan of the opposition.
“He is a powerful hitter of the ball as well and gives us, along with a few other boundary hitters, some real potency.”
Munro has enjoyed a successful season back home in New Zealand and helped Auckland reach the final of the Ford Trophy 50-over competition with a succession of half-centuries.
“I said when I left last summer that I’d love to come back and play for Worcestershire again as it was an awesome experience,” Munro said.
“It was a great year for the club, with getting promotion in the County Championship and in the T20 Blast we claimed some good scalps.
“The boys made me feel part of the dressing room and part of the team, even the crowd took to me as one of their own, and I’m looking forward to coming back with the family.
“The lads showed what they can do and I think we can go on to bigger and better things.”