Chris Green, the globetrotting Australian offspinner, has signed a deal to return to Birmingham Bears for the 2020 Vitality Blast, and will captain the side in the format.
Green, who has made his name as one of the best Powerplay spinners on the T20 circuit in recent years, played six games for the club this year, having flown in from the Global T20 Canada at less than 24 hours’ notice. He impressed in that stint, conceding just 6.69 runs per over, and will be available for the whole group stage in 2020.
ALSO READ: From a Thunder innings to Guyana captain – the unlikely story of Chris Green
And after Jeetan Patel stood down from the captaincy, with his retirement due at the end of next season, Green will lead the side for the whole of the Blast. Will Rhodes was confirmed as the Championship and 50-over captain last week.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Bears last summer and it’s a huge honour to return to the club as captain in 2020,” Green said. “I am really excited about re-joining the squad next season.
“We know that there’s tremendous potential in this young squad and we have every chance of making the knockout stages and pushing for a home Finals Day if we can keep developing in the build up to the opener with Notts Outlaws on May 29.
“Having arrived straight from the Global T20 Canada tournament this year, it’s very exciting that I can return to Edgbaston in mid-May and support our preparations for the full Vitality Blast campaign.”
“It’s great that we can bring Chris back to Edgbaston,” said Paul Farbrace, the club’s sport director. “He’s a true T20 specialist who boasts plenty of experience of playing in many of the world’s top short-form tournaments, but he also has the potential to become an established player on the international stage.
“He immediately settled into the squad last summer and the cricket management team recognise that his experience and leadership qualities can help us to develop a fresh, attacking and entertaining approach to our T20 cricket.
“Securing Chris gives us consistency in the make-up of our team, which we also see as an important factor in helping us get back into the knockout stages the Blast.”
Green recently signed a six-year deal – the longest-ever Big Bash contract – with Sydney Thunder, and counts Guyana Amazon Warriors and Multan Sultans among his other sides. He captained Guyana in the final four games of the Caribbean Premier League in 2018, and recently told ESPNcricinfo that he had received some “good feedback” from Australia’s selectors about his standing ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.