Durham Cricket is pleased to announce that Andrew ‘AJ’ Tye has joined the club for the Vitality Blast.
The Australian paceman joins Durham immediately and will come straight into the squad for tonight’s Vitality Blast fixture at home to Worcestershire Rapids.
Tye, known for his death bowling across the globe joins Durham having played a key part in the Perth Scorchers BBL trophy winning campaign during the winter, claiming 3/15 in the final against Sydney Sixers.
He claimed 25 wickets in the BBL last season, 5 wickets behind Peter Siddle as the competitions leading wicket taker and is the second leading wicket taker in the Big Bash League history with 118 scalps.
The 35-year-old – who has represented Lucknow Super Giants, Rajasthan Royals, Gurjarat Lions, Chenai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League and Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder in Australia’s Big Bash League – has an impressive 253 T20 wickets throughout his career, while he has also played for Gloucestershire in the Vitality Blast.
AJ has featured 39 times in white ball cricket for Australia picking up 59 wickets with a best of 5/46 against England in Perth during the winter of 2018.
Marcus North, Director of Cricket said: “We are pleased to welcome to AJ to Durham for the Vitality Blast, there are still lots of games to play and having lost Ashton Turner to injury were keen to act quickly on a replacement.
“He has an impressive T20 record both at international level and domestically and we are looking forward to getting straight into action tonight.”
Durham Cricket can also provide an update on the shoulder injury which Ashton Turner sustained on Friday night against Northamptonshire Steelbacks. Turner currently faces a spell on the side lines and has begun a process of rehabilitation with the Durham medical staff – which he will regularly be assessed. He will remain at the club and will be available for selection once he has returned to full fitness.