Warwickshire bolster batting with signing of Pieter Malan
Warwickshire have signed South Africa batsman Pieter Malan as their red-ball overseas professional, completing their recruitment for the 2021 season.
The Bears had earlier confirmed the signing of Carlos Brathwaite for the 2021 Vitality Blast.
Pieter Malan signs for Warwickshire
Malan will be the only batsman in the Warwickshire squad who is over 30-years-old, and Director of cricket Paul Farbrace hopes his experience will benefit the young squad.
Warwickshire have just one England contracted batsman in their group in the form of Dom Sibley who could be tasked with opening alongside Malan.
“Pieter is a very good signing for us,” said Farbrace.
“He has played a lot of cricket in South Africa and he has a very impressive batting average across all three formats. He played against England last winter and I think he has been unlucky not to play more international cricket.
“We have got some very talented young batsmen in our top order and for them to work with, and bat out in the middle with, someone of Pieter’s experience and quality will be brilliant for them.
“Pieter is also a very impressive man, friendly, likeable and polite, but with real inner steel and with a point to prove. I know how much he wants to come to the Bears and score some serious runs.”
Malan toiled away for many years in the South African domestic scene before being granted a Test debut against England in January 2020.
The 31-year-old top order batsman has over 10,000 First-Class runs to his name and says that he has always dreamed of playing county cricket.
“It’s always been an ambition of mine to play county cricket and I’m very excited to be afforded the opportunity at a top county with a proud history like Warwickshire,” Malan said.
“I can’t wait to get to Edgbaston and get started with the Bears.”
Malan will join the Edgbaston-based County ahead of their Group 1 opener against Derbyshire, which gets underway on 8 April 2021. The group also includes defending champions Essex, Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire and Durham.
Warwickshire have previously been home to Proteas Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir and Monde Zondeki.
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