Matthew Kelly extends stay with Northamptonshire

The 27-year-old, who originally joined the club as a red-ball player, will provide cover for Jimmy Neesham during the early stages of the T20 Blast

Matthew Kelly has extended his stay with Northamptonshire in order to provide cover for Jimmy Neesham in the T20 Blast.

Neesham is currently under contract with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and following their qualification for the playoff stages of the tournament, he is unlikely to arrive in England before the end of May. The IPL concludes on May 29.

Kelly joined Northamptonshire at the start of the season on a short-term red-ball and took eight wickets in five Division One appearances.

However, the 27-year-old pacer is also a talented white-ball bowler, picking up 14 wickets and recording an economy of 7.78 for eventual champions Perth Scorchers in the 2021/22 Big Bash.

^{Kelly will provide cover for Jimmy Neesham [Francois Nel/Getty Images]}

He averages 19.19 with the ball in the format and boasts a strike rate of 14.

Northamptonshire skipper Josh Cobb said: "It was always in the pipeline with the IPL being as long as it is and obviously they’ve gone pretty well.

"I think it’ll be two games Neesham misses, and we know plenty about Matt already, there’s not much discrepancy between the two.

"It’s not quite like for like but he gives us four good overs and can hit a long ball too."

Fellow Australian Chris Lynn is Northamptonshire’s second overseas signing for the Blast, with the 32-year-old available for the entire tournament.