Yorkshire have snapped up Australian pace bowler Clint McKay as their second Twenty20 specialist.
Director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon has added the 27-year-old from Melbourne, who has played one Test match and ten one-day internationals, to the capture of South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs.
Bajan pace bowler Tino Best will therefore not be part of Yorkshire’s plans for the Friends Provident Twenty20 tournament, but is expected to play for the county in the other two competitions later in the summer.
McKay, who plays his state cricket for Victoria, said: “I am really excited about coming to Yorkshire and playing in a young side that has enjoyed such a positive start to the season.
“I’ve heard a lot about the set-up at Headingley, and I’m really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere of Twenty20 cricket in the UK. I cannot wait to get started.”
McKay featured for the Vics in their Champions League Twenty20 campaign in India last October, taking ten wickets in five matches.
He also played for the Bushrangers in their successful KFC Twenty20 Big Bash campaign earlier this year, but did not play in the win over South Australia in the final. He was also a part of the state’s four-day Sheffield Shield and one-day Ford Ranger Cup wins.
McKay’s performances in India went a long way to earning him international recognition, with him making his ODI debut against India at Hyderabad last November.
He has played in 50-over matches against Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand, taking a best of 4-35 from 9.3 overs against the former at Perth. His only Test appearance was against the West Indies at Perth last December, and he took one wicket.
Described as “good under pressure” by Australian Test captain Ricky Ponting, McKay will be a prime candidate to be employed at either end of an innings by Tykes captain Andrew Gale.
Both McKay and Gibbs will be available for the competition’s entirety, and will make their White Rose debuts against Derbyshire at Headingley on Thursday June 3.
Meanwhile, Best is a doubt for Monday’s LV= County Championship match against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl with a leg injury.
The former West Indian international only bowled two overs in the second innings of the four-day defeat against Somerset at Taunton earlier this week before leaving the field.
And Moxon, who did not travel to Somerset because he wanted to check on the seconds, should know by tomorrow which of his three players – Tim Bresnan, Ajmal Shahzad and Andrew Gale – who have been on England duty, will be available for the trip south.
Geoff Miller will announce the England squad for the first Test match against Bangladesh at 9.30am.
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