Batsman to step in as a replacement overseas player in all three formats
Finch pens county deal with Surrey
Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch has signed a deal to play with English county side Surrey this year.
The 29-year-old, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, will play as an overseas replacement player with the club when Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara is unavailable on Caribbean Premier League duties.
Finch will be available to play all three formats for Surrey, with his debut set to be a clash with Warwickshire on July 2.
Very excited to be joining @surreycricket next season! https://t.co/vwt1kiyyKm
— Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5) February 1, 2016
"This is a great opportunity for me and one I am very much looking forward to. To have the chance to play all forms of the game is a challenge I will relish, as I have ambitions to represent Australia in Test Match cricket," Finch said in a release from Surrey.
"I’m aware that Surrey have an exciting young squad and I hope I am able to add to their obvious talent."
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Finch spent two years with Yorkshire under coach Jason Gillespie, with 2015 turning out to be an injury-ridden season for the explosive opener.
He suffered a serious hamstring tear during the Indian Premier League that required surgery and ruled him out for two months, impacting his county cricket commitments.
Help us welcome @AaronFinch5 to Surrey CCC. Playing @NatWestT20Blast as well as first-class and RL Cup this July pic.twitter.com/2y1yDLlxxE
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) February 1, 2016
Finch travelled to England in June to honour his deal with Gillespie’s side, but suffered a bruised lung batting for Yorkshire’s second XI and then broke his foot in a T20 match for the Vikings in late July.
"Securing a player of Aaron’s quality for such a busy period of red and white ball cricket is excellent news for the club and I’m confident we will see his qualities in all formats of the game," Surrey CCC Director of Cricket Alec Stewart said.
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Meanwhile Cricket Australia are hopeful Finch will be available for the World T20, but say it's too early to declare him fully fit for the tournament in India next month.
Finch injured his left hamstring during Friday night's loss to India at the MCG, ruling him out of the final match of the KFC T20 INTL series and the one-day leg of the Qantas Tour of New Zealand.
Thank you to everyone @YorkshireCCC for the last 2 years, some great memories and great mates!
— Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5) February 1, 2016
While the injury doesn't require surgery, CA's medical staff are yet to give Finch clearance for the World T20, which starts on March 8.