Leicestershire has brought in Ireland batter Paul Stirling as injury cover for the remainder of the T20 Blast. The 33-year-old, who has previously played for Middlesex, Northants, and Birmingham Bears, is replacing Australian Peter Handscomb.
Stirling, born in Belfast, initially signed a two-match deal following Handscomb's shoulder injury sustained during the County Championship game against Sussex this week. Depending on Handscomb's recovery, Stirling's contract can be extended on a game-by-game basis.
Stirling is expected to debut for the Foxes alongside New Zealand's Jimmy Neesham against the Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge on Friday. "Paul has significant county and international experience," said Claude Henderson, Foxes' director of cricket. "He can score quickly at the top of the order and also contribute with wickets."
Leicestershire, aiming for their fourth T20 title and their first in 13 years, currently sit third in their group. They face two crucial East Midlands derby matches against Notts and Derbyshire this weekend.
"We have two big games ahead," Stirling commented. "With the table shaping up well, we're in a great position. Hopefully, we can secure a couple of wins and strengthen our bid for a home quarter-final."
Stirling has a wealth of experience, having played 355 T20 matches and scored nearly 8,500 runs. Recently, he represented Ireland at the World Cup in the Caribbean. He has also won the Men's Hundred twice, with Southern Brave in 2021 and Oval Invincibles last summer.
In 2022, Stirling scored 313 runs in 13 games for the Bears, including a remarkable 46-ball century on his debut. He returned to play two more games for the Edgbaston-based side in 2023, with his last appearance being a win at Leicester.