KIWI all-rounder Mitchell Santner will return to New Road next summer as the Rapids main overseas signing for the Natwest T20Blast.
Worcestershire CCC Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes swooped to bring the 24-year-old back and admitted the left-armer had ‘some unfinished business’ at New Road.
Santner was signed for last summer’s T20 Blast but suffered a broken finger when fielding in his first appearance in the competition against Durham Jets which cut short his spell.
Subject to no objections from New Zealand Cricket and the normal visa clearances, Santner will link up with the Rapids after the conclusion of the ICC Trophy in England throughout June.
The talented Kiwi said he was keen to make up for lost time with the Rapids.
“I really enjoyed my time at Worcester with a great bunch of lads and it was so frustrating for me to pick up that injury in the very first T20 game,” he said.
“I was so looking forward to helping the Rapids build on their success at T20 cricket in recent years.
“It’s fantastic that I’ve got the chance to come back again next summer and hopefully I can make up for lost time and make an impact with bat and ball.
“It’s also a great place to play cricket and a great city and this time I hope to have more time to explore it,” he added.
Rhodes praised Santner’s abilities with bat and ball as well as in the field and said another left handed in the top six was a welcome addition.
“Losing Mitch was a massive blow to our hopes of qualifying.
“We’d had a good start and him playing all those games would have been an extra bonus for us,” he said.
“To give Mitch that chance now, I think is a good selection, because he is hungry to do well for the club and prove his worth to the club.
“I always like to have signings where people have got something to prove and I think he feels that way so that’s why it is an exciting signing.
“It is an easy signing because he knows the dressing room, the dressing room knows him.
“He is a wonderful character and a breath of fresh air because he has got those three disciplines,” Rhodes added.
