Surrey sign SA’s Morris for T20 Blast stint

Cricket365
March 7, 2016

English county side Surrey have signed South African all-rounder Chris Morris as an overseas player for this season's NatWest T20 Blast competition.

Morris will join the club in July after West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo leaves to play in the Caribbean Premier League, making him available for the final six group matches of the tournament, including four big Friday night home fixtures at the Kia Oval.

An experienced T20 player, Morris recently made his Test Match debut against England in Cape Town, scoring 69 in his first Test and opening the bowling in the first innings at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

This will be his first experience in English domestic cricket, coming on the back of experience with the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League and the Highveld Lions in South Africa.

Having agreed terms at the start of January, Morris was named Man of the Match in the fourth One Day International at the Wanderers stadium with his match winning innings of 62 off 38 balls.

He was also signed by the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL for a fee of $1,044,000. An NOC certificate was issued by Cricket South Africa this week, allowing Morris to play this season.

Speaking this week, Chris Morris said: "I am delighted to have signed for Surrey to play T20 this year. Playing county cricket has always been a big ambition of mine and I am delighted to be playing at the Kia Oval.

"I look forward to joining up with the boys in July and I hope to contribute towards a successful season for the county."

Surrey CCC Director of Cricket Alec Stewart added: "Chris is an exciting three dimensional cricketer with bat, ball and in the field and has shown his match winning abilities in the recent South Africa v England 50 over and T20 series.

"He will give us a number of very good options when he joins us in July and everyone at the club looks forward to welcoming him this summer."