Lancashire sign Daryl Mitchell and Colin de Grandhomme for County Championship and T20 Blast

Both players will be available for entirety of the T20 Blast as well as a selection of County Championship matches from April to July

Lancashire have recruited New Zealand duo Colin de Grandhomme and Daryl Mitchell as overseas signings for the 2023 season.

De Grandhomme will arrive at Emirates Old Trafford ahead of Lancashire's County Championship opener against former side Surrey on April 6 and will be available for selection in both red and white-ball cricket until the end of the T20 Blast.

His compatriot, Mitchell, will join up with the squad ahead of the club's County Championship clash with Somerset on May 11 and depart following the first-class fixture against Northamptonshire (July 25-28). Like de Grandhomme, he will be available for Lancashire's entire T20 Blast campaign.

As a result, Lancashire will have three overseas players – the other being Dane Vilas – at their disposal from mid-May, something director of cricket performance, Mark Chilton, believes will help with managing the squad through a busy period of matches.

^{Mitchell in action at the 2022 T20 World Cup [Cameron Spencer/Getty Images]}

"We are really excited to add both Daryl and Colin to our squad and to be able to do so for such a large portion of the 2023 season – which was a key factor for us when looking to make overseas additions this year," Chilton said.

"The schedule, as it has been for the last few years, continues to be really challenging particularly in the middle part of the summer throughout May, June and July, due to the amount of cricket we're playing in a short period. With that in mind, we want to ensure we've got enough strength in depth to cover for all eventualities and Daryl and Colin provide us with exactly that.   

"It has been a tricky process to try and add the right overseas players to our squad – in terms of both availability and quality – but I think we have found the perfect fit with two experienced international cricketers, who will bring quality to our changing room.

"Colin will be with us from the very start against Surrey in the County Championship before Daryl joins up in mid-May. The pair will then both be available throughout our Vitality Blast campaign and, alongside Dane Vilas, provide us with plenty of options for different matches and scenarios."

De Grandhomme, a seam-bowling allrounder, has played 129 first-class matches, scoring 6,765 runs and taking 212 wickets, while in T20 cricket, he has scored a further 4,049 runs at a strike rate of 156.81 and picked up 74 wickets (9.42 economy). Included in those figures are 29 Test matches and 41 T20Is for New Zealand.

Fellow allrounder Mitchell, has scored 5,038 runs at 48.32 and taken 91 wickets in 90 first-class appearances, including scoring 992 runs and taking three wickets in 14 Test appearances.

In T20 cricket, the 31-year-old has represented New Zealand on 43 occasions while across his career, he has scored 3,216 runs at a strike rate of 133.11 and taken 60 wickets (9.34 economy).

^{De Grandhomme (second right) represented Surrey last season [Ben Hoskins/Getty Images]}

Commenting on joining Lancashire, de Grandhomme said: "I'm really looking forward to the opportunity of playing for Lancashire this season. I've loved playing county cricket previously and I can't wait to get to England in April to kick off the season with the Red Rose.

"Lancashire has an exciting squad who have been so close to silverware in the last couple of years, hopefully I can help to add some experience to the dressing room so that we can go one step further this season.

"Emirates Old Trafford is a world-class venue, one which I have played at before in New Zealand colours and I can't wait to pull on a Lancashire shirt in front of the club's members and supporters."

Mitchell added: "I am delighted to be joining Lancashire this summer. The county has a proud history and having lived in Manchester as a child for a couple of years - it's special to return in this way.

"I had a taste of the Vitality Blast and County Championship with Middlesex in 2021 and I am really looking forward to trying to make contributions in both competitions for Lancashire this summer. The chance to test my skills again in two strong competitions is exciting as a player.

"I really enjoy playing in English conditions and the special history of the game around the country. I have very fond memories of my two tours to England with New Zealand and hope to build more with Lancashire. It will also be great to link up with my old Blackpool teammates Steven Croft and Richard Gleeson having played there for a summer in 2016."