Hannon-Dalby up for new challenge

By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent

Oliver Hannon-Dalby is excited by the "new challenge" facing him at Edgbaston after county champions Warwickshire confirmed his signing on a contract until the end of the forthcoming season.

The 23-year-old seamer from Halifax was due to be out of contract with Yorkshire in September but he has now been released from that deal so that he can join Warwickshire.

Yorkshire gave Hannon-Dalby permission to join Warwickshire on trial last month and he has settled in well during his four weeks at Edgbaston.

“Warwickshire were outstanding in first-class and one-day cricket last season and while I’m sad to be leaving my home county, I’m very excited about the new challenge ahead and joining up with my new team mates,” Hannon-Dalby said.

“The new facilities at Edgbaston are amongst the best in world cricket and we’ve got a great squad that’s capable of challenging for honours in all formats of the game.

“With the support of the Warwickshire coaching team, Chris Wright and Keith Barker were two of the best bowlers on the county circuit in 2012 and I hope that by working hard in all areas that I can develop and enjoy similar levels of success to them.”

Hannon-Dalby is a first signing for Warwickshire’s new director of cricket Dougie Brown who will take the 6ft 8in tall seamer on the county's pre-season trip to Barbados next month.

“We first saw Oliver close-up at the start of the 2010 season when he took five wickets against us in an LV= County Championship match at Edgbaston,” Brown said.

“While he’s struggled to consistently hold a place in the Yorkshire first XI, we recognise that his ability to swing the ball from such a great height adds something different to our pace attack. He’s working well with Graeme Welch and we hope he can continue to develop here in the same way that our current fast bowlers have.

“With Woakes, Wright, Rankin and Clarke all featuring in England’s winter touring squads, it’s essential that we’re prepared for more call-ups in the summer, so Oliver is a great addition to the squad.”

Date: 14/02/2013 11:28:00 by Paul Bolton
In: Yorkshire | Warwickshire | Today |